Barcelona have thrown themselves into a frantic race in the closing metres of the transfer window, placing controversial American striker Folarin Balogun at the top of their wishlist to offset the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
French newspaper "L'Equipe" report that the Catalan club have shown serious interest in the 25-year-old Monaco striker. That pits them against Tottenham and Aston Villa, who have tracked the player for some time.
Sporting director Deco has made the out-and-out striker position a priority, particularly with negotiations to sign Julian Alvarez stalling. Just over ten days remain before the window shuts on 1 September, and Barcelona have widened their list of candidates under coach Hansi Flick.
Balogun is pressing his case hard after an exceptional season with Monaco. He ended it as one of the side's standout stars, scoring 19 goals in 43 matches across all competitions. His contract with the French club runs until June 2028, so Monaco are under no obligation to sell unless a huge fee lands on the table.
The American's stock rose sharply after his displays at the 2026 World Cup on home soil, where he finished as the United States' top scorer with three goals in four matches. He led Mauricio Pochettino's squad to the round of 16 before their 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
His brilliance alone did not put him in the spotlight. A controversial decision allowed him to play in the round of 16 despite his suspension, following an intervention by American President Donald Trump, and that triggered a wide wave of anger in footballing circles.
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Monaco know interest in the player will only intensify in the final days. He missed the side's last match against Gornik Zabrze in the first leg of the Conference League qualifiers, yet the club still named him in their UEFA squad list, which could complicate any potential deal.
The decision now rests with Barcelona, and they must move fast. Either they turn their interest into an official offer to snatch the most controversial striker of the World Cup, or they keep searching for other options to complete the squad.