Tottenham Hotspur have identified a familiar face from their local rivals as the man to lead their attack next season, but they are hardly alone in th...
Tottenham Hotspur have identified a familiar face from their local rivals as the man to lead their attack next season, but they are hardly alone in the chase. According to information gathered by GoalZaza, Monaco striker Folarin Balogun has been placed firmly on Tottenham's priority list. The 22 year old, who forced his way into the United States World Cup squad last winter, has shown enough at the Stade Louis II to convince Ange Postecoglou's recruitment team that he is worth a serious fight.Yet here is the rub. Paris Saint Germain have also added Balogun to their internal shortlist as they search for a centre forward, and Chelsea remain lurking in the wings. For Spurs, the irony is thick enough to cut with a knife. They are pursuing a player who came through the academy at Arsenal, left without making a first team breakthrough, and is now being coveted by the very club that released him. That is football's circle of life, is it not The same fanbase that jeered his name at the Emirates might now have to watch him in lilywhite if Daniel Levy can get a deal over the line.From a tactical standpoint, Balogun offers exactly the kind of profile Postecoglou craves. He is not just a penalty box poacher. His hold up play is intelligent, his movement in transitional phases is sharp, and he has demonstrated clinical finishing in Ligue 1 that suggests he can handle the step up to Premier League intensity. Monaco will drive a hard bargain, especially with PSG's financial muscle behind them. But Tottenham have money to spend and a manager who knows how to polish raw talent into something dangerous.The real question is whether Balogun is ready to be the main man at a club with title ambitions, or whether he would be better served as a rotational option in Paris. For a lad who left North London seeking minutes, the thought of returning to lead the line at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium might just be too tempting to turn down. Expect this one to run deep into the window, with agents playing poker and fans refreshing their feeds every few minutes. Squeaky bum time in the transfer market has arrived early.
