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Two former United States international goalkeepers who enjoyed successful Premier League careers have reflected on Folarin Balogun’s failed deadline-day transfer to Everton, with both expressing disappointment that the move ultimately fell apart.
The Blues had reached an agreement to sign the Monaco forward for a significant fee after allowing Beto to depart for Fiorentina. However, a problem emerged during Balogun’s medical, setting off a dramatic sequence of events before the transfer deadline.
Everton subsequently renegotiated the structure of the transfer with Monaco, resulting in a considerably lower fee than the one initially agreed. Monaco were satisfied with the revised terms, while Everton and Balogun were also prepared to proceed, with all parties signing a deal sheet shortly before the 11pm deadline in an effort to complete the transfer.
However, around an hour later, the former Arsenal striker reportedly made it clear that he wanted to return to his current club, where he has made only one substitute appearance so far this season.
The failed move left Everton manager David Moyes with just one senior striker available in his squad, Thierno Barry. The forward has made an impressive start to the campaign, scoring five goals in seven appearances across all competitions.
That leaves Everton needing Barry to remain fit until the January transfer window, while former USA internationals Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller both believe the collapse of the Balogun deal was unfortunate.
“I think Folarin Balogun knows the Premier League and has the quality to play in it,” said former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Friedel to Jackpot City Casino.
“Everton was probably a perfect-sized club for him, to be honest, one that carries a lot of pressure from its history and tradition, but isn’t expected to be in that top six, and has one of the very best managers to ever be in the Premier League in David Moyes, who would have been excellent for him.
“Putting my United States hat on, I was sorry to see the deal fall through because I think it would have been great for him and the US. Everton lost out on a very good person on and off the field and a very good player. I don’t know why it collapsed other than what I’ve read.
“I don’t know Balogun personally, so I’ve never spoken to him. I really don’t know if there was a last-minute renegotiation from Everton or if Balogun just didn’t like the feel of it. It’s all speculation, but it’s a real shame, he had flown there, so there was clearly an intention to get the deal done.”
Whether Everton will attempt to revive their interest in the 25-year-old when the January window opens remains to be seen. Keller, however, believes Balogun would have been an excellent fit for Moyes and the club.
“I think Flo is a willing runner in behind, and I think last season, is where you saw his greatest return. And then he followed that form into the World Cup, which was great,” said the former Millwall, Leicester City and Tottenham goalkeeper to Casinostugan.
“That goalscoring touch, and being in the right place at the right time. A lot of that, it’s not like he was in the right place, he was in the right place because he did a lot of work to get into the right place. And I think that was an evolution.
“There are a lot of strikers who will be like ‘give me the ball and I will score’. No, you’ve got to get to a place where somebody can give you the ball to score. So when they get to that point where they don’t have to think about their movement, where it becomes so ingrained, I think Balogun had moved into that realm.
“I don’t know what is going to happen now. When you start at Arsenal, go to France, start to have success in France, I think it was a little bit too much to say we will go right back to a top-four team. So I liked the idea of going to Everton, in a place where they want you with a manager like Moyes.
“I don’t know how that thing blew up but it’s a real shame. It’s kind of really stunted Balogun’s development, and I think it would have been a good move for Everton. I would have loved to have seen him playing at Everton week in week out.”
Everton remain unbeaten across their opening seven matches of the season and are now preparing for their return to competitive action against Hull City away from home on October 11.