Everton have submitted a formal bid for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, with the French club placing a £40 million valuation on the 25-year-old American international.

The Merseyside club are determined to bolster their attacking options before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Balogun has emerged as a primary target alongside Tottenham forward Richarlison, though the Brazilian is reported to have reservations about a return to Goodison Park, having left for Spurs in 2022.

Everton are pushing ahead with their pursuit of Balogun regardless, though it remains unclear whether their offer will satisfy Monaco's asking price.

World Cup controversy

Balogun's summer was dominated by one of the most contentious disciplinary decisions in recent World Cup history. The former Arsenal forward was dismissed for serious foul play during the United States' last-32 fixture against Bosnia-Herzegovina and faced an automatic one-match suspension.

However, Fifa's disciplinary committee chose to suspend that ban for a year — a ruling that drew fierce condemnation from across the football world. The controversy deepened when it emerged that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied Fifa on Balogun's behalf ahead of the decision.

As a result, Balogun was free to start the USA's last-16 clash with Belgium, a match they lost. Uefa described the committee's ruling as