Newcastle United HubNewcastle United are ahead of Aston Villa in the queue to sign former Premier League frontman Folarin Balogun.
What happened?
The Magpies are in need of more quality this summer after a disappointing season. Eddie Howe will be hugely frustrated by the season just gone, and he knows his bosses are not going to put up with another campaign of that nature.
Why it matters for Newcastle United
Fortunately for the Magpies boss, he is set to be backed in the summer transfer window, and the Toon Army should have money to spend. The sale of Anthony Gordon will appease the Profit and Sustainability overlords. Newcastle have made contact with AS Monaco over a potential deal for Balogun, who has scored 24 goals in 72 league appearances.
What comes next?
Balogun has been impressing at the World Cup, scoring two and providing an assist in his first two games with USMNT. Wayne Rooney said: "He has pace, he has power, his directness, his rawness and his ability to drive with the ball.” Olivier Giroud added: “He’s doing really well, he’s scored 19 goals this year with Monaco, full of confidence, a lot of composure.”
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals scored by Balogun for Monaco | 24 |
| League appearances for Monaco | 72 |
| Goals scored by Balogun at the World Cup | 2 |
| Assists provided by Balogun at the World Cup | 1 |
Monaco won't sell for less than £43million, which puts Newcastle in an awkward position. The Magpies would have to offload Yoane Wissa before pressing ahead with a Balogun deal. Aston Villa, who can offer Champions League football, are monitoring the situation.
