Everton has officially made a bid for Folarin Balogun, the Monaco forward valued at £40m by the French club. As the transfer deadline approaches on Tuesday, the Toffees are keen to bolster their forward line, eyeing Balogun alongside Richarlison, currently at Tottenham.

Despite Everton's interest, Richarlison reportedly harbors doubts about returning to the club he left for Spurs in 2022. Nonetheless, Everton is pressing forward with their pursuit of Balogun, a 25-year-old striker from the United States.

The outcome of Everton's bid remains uncertain, but Balogun has become a significant target as the deadline looms.

Balogun's summer has been tumultuous, marked by controversy during the World Cup where he faced serious allegations of foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Although he received a red card and should have faced an automatic suspension, Fifa's disciplinary committee controversially suspended his ban for a year after lobbying from US President Donald Trump and White House officials.

This decision, which allowed Balogun to continue playing, sparked widespread criticism, especially since he scored three goals during the tournament and participated in the USA's last-16 match against Belgium.

In stark contrast, Jarell Quansah of England received a two-match ban for a similar offense, raising questions about fairness in disciplinary actions. The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee declined to comment on the decision-making process behind Balogun's case, while Fifa president Gianni Infantino denied any influence over such matters.