More proven than Balogun: Why Spurs must sign £70m Premier League star
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Published Aug 14, 2026, 6:15 AM GMT+1
Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.
A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.
His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.
Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.
Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.
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Well, they certainly hope it'll be better than the 17th place they ended up in last term. It should be better than that and if it isn't, something has gone seriously wrong. After all, they have spent a lorry load to improve the team.
That said, whether they end up qualifying for the Champions League could come down to the business they conclude in the forthcoming weeks.
REUTERS/Hollie Adams
They have bolstered the defence and midfield phenomenally well but the attack remains untouched. That simply has to change.
Up front, there have been remarkable whispers of moves for Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen. A more plausible move, however, could be made for Folarin Balogun.
The problem with signing Folarin Balogun
Spurs are hunting down wingers in the closing weeks of the window but a striker would not go amiss.
Indeed, Dominic Solanke's form and fitness over the last year has been called into question. He played just 20 times last term and scored only six goals.
REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Sadly for the centre-forward, he has only played 45 minutes in pre-season too. It's hardly been an ideal start to life during the Roberto De Zerbi era.
Despite that, Spurs must tread with caution here. Balogun has arguably been in the form of his life over the last year, scoring 19 goals for Monaco across 2025/26, and bagging three goals in four games at the World Cup.
However, despite that goalscoring prowess of late, he is still a rather inconsistent player. French football has become accustomed to that since he moved to Ligue 1 four years ago.
On loan at Reims in 2022/23, the USA superstar bagged as many as 22 goals in 39 outings. After leaving Arsenal for Monaco, he netted just eight times in 2023/24 and then four times in 2025/26.
The Gunners academy graduate has obviously improved but there is a sense that Spurs need someone a bit more proven this summer. They could also do with a Premier League-proven asset. That has been one of De Zerbi's key criteria when looking to strengthen.
£70m target would be a better signing for Spurs
Speaking of proven in the English top-flight, that's where the Lilywhites are currently focusing their efforts.
Alongside the Brazilian, Spurs are hoping to sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool. This has been a difficult one to negotiate. The Reds are already looking for a replacement for Mo Salah and if they are to sanction the Dutchman's exit too, will need to sign a second winger.
That is the big sticking point here. If Andoni Iraola is unable to get two new forwards, it seems unlikely Gakpo will be allowed to join Tottenham.
Providing the latest on a deal, Ben Jacobs told The Last Word on Spurs podcast: "The player is open to Tottenham. This Gakpo situation is one to watch until the final seconds of the window. If Liverpool spend big on Bradley Barcola and one more winger then Gakpo might suddenly be available on the market. If you ask Liverpool today he is not for sale."
So, there are lots of variables here, not least the fact he could cost around £70m. That means that if the Lilywhites are to get both him and Savinho. It would be another £150m odd spent in the transfer window.
Gakpo, however, would certainly be worth it. After all, he ticks the box of being ready made for the Premier League and he could well be a better option as the leading striker than Balogun.
The latter is exciting and he's in form but by signing the Liverpool forward, there is very little risk attached to a deal.
This is a player who had a massive role to play in Liverpool's Premier League winning season of 2024/25, scoring ten goals in the league that term and 18 in all competitions. To put that number into context, no player has hit greater heights since Harry Kane left.
Gakpo season by season record
Season
Goals
Assists
2021/22
19
15
2022/23
20
18
2023/24
16
6
2024/25
18
6
2025/26
9
6
Heung-min Son was their top scorer in 2023/24 with 17, Brennan Johnson netted 18 in 2024/25 and Richarlison ended last season with 12 in all competitions.
Sure, Balogun topped those numbers last season but he doesn't boast the experience of English football that Gakpo has, nor is he as versatile.
One of the biggest boons to signing the 27-year-old is his versatility. While the Netherlands international is a left winger by trade, featuring on 93 occasions for Liverpool in that role, he has also played 66 times as a striker for the Reds.
As a result, he could well be the perfect replacement for not just Solanke but also Richarlison. Should Spurs complete a move for Gakpo, they can surely forget about Balogun.
1 week ago
6
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig
REUTERS/Hollie Adams
REUTERS/Hollie Adams
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