Everton have agreed a £40m fee with Monaco for forward Folarin Balogun as they look to bolster their attack before Tuesday's transfer deadline. The move comes after the club's alternative target, Tottenham and former Everton forward Richarlison, is understood to have had reservations about rejoining the Toffees and failed to agree personal terms despite a £35m offer.

Balogun, 25, left boyhood club Arsenal for Ligue 1 side Monaco in 2023 and has scored 31 goals in 91 appearances for the French club, alongside 12 goals in 31 caps for the USA. A separate deal that would have seen Tottenham's Iliman Ndiaye move to Everton with Richarlison going the other way has instead resulted in Ndiaye joining Manchester City for up to £65m. Balogun was also at the centre of controversy at this summer's World Cup, when Fifa suspended a ban he should have received for a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a decision criticised by Uefa and linked to lobbying by US President Donald Trump and White House officials.