Man Utd: Ex-Arsenal man advised to reject Old Trafford transfer as ‘project would set him back’
Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has been urged to reject a move to Man Utd in January as the project at Old Trafford “would set him back”.
The Red Devils spent the vast majority of their summer budget on signing midfielders with Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos moving to Old Trafford in big-money deals.
It hasn’t quite paid off yet as Man Utd struggle under Michael Carrick and there are rumours the Red Devils could look to bring in a left-back and a striker to help in the January transfer window.
Benjamin Sesko is out for a while with a shin injury, while there are rumours that Joshua Zirkzee could be up for sale in January with the Netherlands international barely featuring once again this term.
And that has left Man Utd looking around for a new striker with Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta some of the names linked.
TEAMtalk recently revealed that Man Utd have been approached about a potential January deal for former Arsenal striker Balogun, who is currently at French side Monaco.
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The report claimed: ‘A number of Premier League clubs have been sounded out, and we can confirm that Man Utd are among those to have been approached.
‘Man Utd are looking to strengthen their attacking options during the winter window, with the club’s need for a new centre-forward making Balogun a potential name to consider. The USMNT striker’s availability has been put to Old Trafford as they assess the market.’
However, ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney insists that a move to Man Utd could hamper Balogun’s career, although the USA international has not started a Ligue 1 match this season.
A move to Man Utd ‘not good’ for Balogun – Deeney
On Balogun potentially leaving to join Man Utd, Deeney told CBS Sports: “No, no, no, not good for Man United, not good for Flo Balogun himself.
“It just doesn’t work. Man United haven’t given you a record in the last decade of a striker who has gone in and done well. They don’t give you the support mechanism for that.
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“I actually thought the move to Everton made sense. What I mean by that is that Everton create good moments, if you see [Thierno] Barry at the moment he doesn’t give himself the best chance, he misses a lot.
“Balogun was in a wonderful vein of form at the start of the season, came off a wonderful World Cup, scored a lot in the Champions League, I think the Man United project would set him back.”
After a move to Everton fell through in the summer transfer window, Balogun recently left the door open to a return to the Premier League.
Speaking about his future last month, Balogun told talkSPORT: “Yes, potentially. Football has many twists and turns as we’ve seen after the World Cup.
“I was close to a transfer, didn’t materialise, but for sure it’s definitely an option.”
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