Transfers
Tottenham’s £52m chase for Balogun hints at missed targets
Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be negotiating a £52 million transfer for former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, a move that could see the 24‑year‑old join the Lilywhites as they scramble for attacking firepower.
Early window activity
Spurs completed six defensive and midfield signings early in the summer, with Sandro Tonali the last arrival on July 6. Since then, no forward has entered the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, leaving a five‑and‑a‑half‑week gap in the attacking department.
Injuries have compounded the shortage. Dominic Solanke spent much of the 2025/26 season sidelined, while Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski are only now returning to fitness. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are unavailable for the first months of the campaign because of ACL injuries.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi admitted the squad is light up front and has been working with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director John Lange to close the gap. "The transfer market, it's not finished for sure. We have completed 60% of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba," he said on the pre‑season tour, adding that the "bomba" was still not finalised.
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Balogun link and implications
Tottenham have been linked with several forwards, but the Balogun connection has drawn particular attention. Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold noted that links to the former Arsenal striker surfaced during the World Cup, a time when he was told there was zero interest. "If they are now pursuing him, it suggests a first‑choice target has become unattainable," Gold said.
The club is also in talks with Manchester City over Brazilian forward Savinho, but that deal has stalled. De Zerbi confirmed the Balogun pursuit is separate from the Savinho negotiations, indicating Tottenham are keeping multiple options open.
The report was filed by Reuters reporter Hollie Adams and written by Lee Wilmot. By  Lee Wilmot, a Senior Editor and Content Strategist at GiveMeSport with more than 20 years' experience, previously working on the , the piece notes that Lee graduated from Southampton Solent University in 2005 with a journalism degree before starting as a news reporter on his local paper in Kent. Readers can sign in to their GiveMeSport account, add Us, and log in; they can also try something different, such as asking for a lighthearted recap, or use the "Give me a lighthearted recap" feature.
If the £52 million deal materialises, Tottenham would finally add a proven Premier League striker, potentially easing the pressure on Solanke, Kudus and Kulusevski. For Balogun, the move would represent a return to the English top flight and a chance to revive his career after a season without a club.