Everton left with sole striker as Balogun walkout triggers deadline-day chaos

Key points

• Balogun arrived in Merseyside for a medical but ultimately walked away from the £40m deal despite a submitted dealsheet.
• The collapse left Everton with only Thierno Barry as a recognized striker for the first half of the season.
• Monaco’s withdrawal from the Balogun deal caused their agreement to sell Lamine Camara to Chelsea to fall through.
• Everton signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for approximately £4.2m after failing to secure Kenny Tete from Fulham.
• Jack Grealish returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City, potentially debuting against United.

Background

This incident follows a period of intense deadline-day activity where Everton had already sold Beto to Fiorentina and Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. Previous reports indicated that Balogun, who scored 19 goals for Monaco last season, was a priority target to replace Beto, but the transfer faced complications regarding medicals and financial structures.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian emphasizes the 'shambolic' nature of Everton's window, highlighting the club's failed attempts to sign Joshua Zirkzee and Tammy Abraham as alternatives. Sky Sports focuses on the wider ramifications for Chelsea, noting that Monaco’s decision to prioritize the Balogun deal over the Camara sale left the Blues 'really unhappy' and without a replacement for Enzo Fernandez. The Independent provides a concise summary of the financial collapse, attributing the failure primarily to Balogun's change of heart after the deal sheet was submitted.

Why it matters

The failure to secure a striker leaves Everton with a significant tactical vulnerability for the first half of the season. The incident also highlights the risks of complex, multi-club transfer negotiations on deadline day, as one club's decision can cascade to disrupt other major transfers, such as Chelsea's acquisition of Lamine Camara.

What to watch

Everton will rely on Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish to lead the attack in the immediate term. The club may need to reassess its squad structure in the January window, while Chelsea faces the challenge of finding a new midfielder after the collapse of the Camara deal.