Man Utd transfer news: Striker ready to sign after instant green light and join Pochettino at Old Trafford
AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun is willing to move to Manchester United and work under incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino at Old Trafford, according to a report.
Man Utd have sacked Michael Carrick as manager, with the Reds in the Premier League relegation zone.
Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Pochettino is now set to take over at Old Trafford.
Man Utd co-owners INEOS and majority shareholders, the Glazer family, have decided that Pochettino is the right manager to take the team forward.
The Argentine is in charge of the USA at the moment, but he is ready to take over at Man Utd after the current international break.
Man Utd will have to pay a total compensation fee of £10.5million for Pochettino and his coaching staff.
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One of the areas that Pochettino will have to address as Man Utd manager when the January transfer window opens is in attack.
Benjamin Sesko is the only recognised senior centre-forward in the Man Utd squad.
Sesko, though, has missed most of the season with a shin problem.
Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee and Bryan Mbeumo can play as a striker, but none of them is a natural number nine.
Folarin Balogun ready to join Man Utd
According to TEAMtalk, former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is now ready to solve Pochettino’s problem in attack.
READ MORE: Pochettino doomed at Man Utd as career savaged by ex-Old Trafford chief
The reliable transfer news outlet has claimed that the AS Monaco striker is willing to move to Man Utd and continue to work with Pochettino.
Balogun plays for the USA, so the 25-year-old striker knows Pochettino inside out.
Monaco themselves are reported to be willing to sell the former Arsenal man in the middle of the season.
TEAMtalk has reported that Balogun’s ‘representatives have informed United that Pochettino’s appointment has made a switch to Old Trafford ‘somewhat’ more appealing, with the striker’s camp actively keen to explore the possibility’.
The report added: ‘The 25-year-old is now understood to be increasingly receptive to the prospect, with the opportunity to work again with Pochettino a major factor.
‘The pair enjoyed a productive relationship during their time together with the United States national team, with Pochettino getting some of the best performances out of the forward in recent years.
‘Balogun is keen to return to English football after a difficult spell at Monaco, where he has now found himself out of favour.’
AS Monaco ready to sell Folarin Balogun
TEAMtalk added: ‘We can confirm that Monaco are open to doing business in January and would give his sale an instant green light.
‘Their financial position means a permanent sale would be their preferred outcome, although a loan arrangement with the right possibilities attached is also under consideration.
‘United’s recruitment team already viewed Balogun as an attractive option before Pochettino’s arrival, but the new manager’s knowledge of the player could prove an important factor in any decision.’
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