Barcelona chase the "controversial striker" at the World Cup: will he make up for the failed Álvarez deal?
Barcelona have entered a frantic race during the final stretch of the transfer window, after placing the controversial American forward Folarin Balogun at the top of their priorities to compensate for the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, in preparation for the 2026/2027 season.
French newspaper "L'Équipe" revealed that the Catalan club have shown serious interest in the 25-year-old Monaco forward. That puts them in direct competition with Tottenham and Aston Villa, who have been monitoring the player for a long time.
Sporting director Deco has made the out-and-out forward position a top priority, particularly with negotiations to sign Julián Álvarez having stalled. With just over ten days remaining until the window closes on 1 September, Barcelona have expanded their list of candidates under coach Hansi Flick.
Balogun is presenting his credentials strongly after an exceptional season with Monaco, which he ended as one of the team's standout stars by scoring 19 goals in 43 matches across all competitions. His contract with the French club runs until June 2028, so Monaco are not obliged to let him go except for a huge fee.
The American forward's stock has risen notably after his brilliant performances at the 2026 World Cup on home soil. He was the United States' top scorer with three goals in four matches, leading Mauricio Pochettino's side to the last 16 before their 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
His brilliance was not the only thing that put him in the spotlight. Controversy followed too, after a contentious decision allowed him to take part in the round of 16 despite his suspension, following intervention from American President Donald Trump. That sparked a widespread wave of anger in football circles.
Monaco know that interest in the player will only increase in the final days. Despite his absence from the team's last match against Górnik Zabrze in the first leg of the Conference League qualifiers, the club included his name on the European Union list, which could affect any potential deal.
The decision now rests with Barcelona. They must resolve their position quickly, either by turning their interest into an official bid to snatch the most controversial forward at the World Cup, or continuing the search for other options to complete their squad.
