Folarin Balogun is an Monaco striker and the 25-year-old forward is being linked with Manchester United for January. The latest reporting says Monaco are open to doing business and would give his sale an instant green light, while Balogun's camp is increasingly receptive because of the chance to work again with Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino's role in the move

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, TEAMtalk reported via football365.com. That lines up with the broader view that the striker's previous work with Pochettino, especially with the USA, has kept this move alive.

Balogun has not had much of a run at club level in 2026. He has played 151 league minutes in five Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco and has scored once. He also scored three goals in four World Cup appearances, which is the better reminder of the level he can reach when the setup suits him.

Monaco's January stance

Monaco's position is the other reason this story has gained pace. TEAMtalk, also via football365.com, said the club are open to a January sale and would give it an instant green light. That does not make a deal likely on its own, but it does remove one of the biggest obstacles in a winter chase.

Manchester United's need is obvious enough. They are 18th in the Premier League after 10 games with eight points, and Benjamin Sesko is the only recognised senior centre-forward in the squad. Sesko has missed most of the season with a shin problem and has made only four Premier League appearances, totalling 85 minutes.

Balogun is still only a rumour at this stage, and the disagreement over how open Monaco really are has not gone away. What has changed is the combination of a receptive player, a willing selling club and a manager who already knows him well, with the January window now the part to watch.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →