Troy Deeney has told Folarin Balogun to avoid Manchester United if the January window opens the door again. The former Watford striker said the move would not suit Balogun, even though the Monaco forward remains available to a Premier League return and several clubs are watching the situation.
Deeney's warning
"No, no, no, not good for Man United, not good for Flo Balogun himself. It just doesn’t work," Deeney told metro.co.uk. He added that United have not given him "a record in the last decade of a striker who has gone in and done well" and said they do not offer "the support mechanism" for that kind of signing.
The criticism lands against a poor United backdrop. They are 17th in the Premier League, have only 7 points and have scored 10 league goals. Deeney also pointed to Everton as a better fit, saying their ability to create chances made more sense for Balogun than a move to Old Trafford.
Balogun's next move
Balogun's own situation is less straightforward. He was close to joining Everton for £40 million in the summer window before the move collapsed on deadline day after medical concerns were raised. He later said a transfer remained "definitely an option" after that deal fell through.
At Monaco, the minutes have been thin. Balogun is 25 and has made just 4 Ligue 1 substitute appearances this season, while Monaco left him out of their European squad altogether before his situation improved in early November. He has 1 league goal in 4 Ligue 1 appearances, and that is not the sort of output that shuts down transfer noise.
The January window now looks like the obvious checkpoint. Deeney's warning is clear, but Balogun has not closed the door on England, and Monaco have still not given him the kind of runway that would make a United move look persuasive.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
