Former Premier League striker Teddy Sheringham has weighed in on the dramatic deadline-day collapse of Folarin Balogun’s proposed £40 million switch to Everton, asserting that the USMNT international ultimately made the right call by pulling out of the deal. The high-profile transfer fell apart at the eleventh hour when Balogun reportedly grew uncomfortable with how the club handled his medical and the subsequent negotiations.
While talks of a potential future move continue to circulate, Sheringham believes that leading the line at Goodison Park, or the club’s home ground, presents a uniquely difficult challenge for any centre-forward. “Balogun at Everton? It would’ve been tough for him, if you look at what’s expected as a centre forward at Everton,” Sheringham told the Liverpool Echo.
“They’ve had forwards who have come to the fore now and again, like Beto and Barry. It’s a tough place to be a striker. You have to score goals and work your socks off, and then you can be a hero.
That’s hard when you have to play up front on your own.” With Balogun remaining open to a future departure from AS Monaco, pundits and fans alike will be watching closely to see whether the former Arsenal youngster eventually finds a Premier League landing spot better suited to his style of play.