Balogun left out of Monaco's European squad list after Everton move collapses

Folarin Balogun is missing from Monaco's squad list for the UEFA Conference League group stage, with his future at the club still uncertain. The 25-year-old striker has yet to feature in any of Monaco's four matches this season and will also sit out Friday's Ligue 1 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

On Tuesday, the final day of the transfer window, Balogun came close to joining Everton, who were reportedly ready to pay around £40 million for him. The deal ultimately collapsed. According to Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro, Liverpool-area club Everton raised concerns about the player's health during his medical, after which Balogun himself decided not to proceed, saying he did not feel comfortable with the situation.

Future still unclear

Although Balogun has returned to training with the Monaco squad, his name does not appear on the roster UEFA published for the club's European campaign, and he did not travel with the team to Paris. Monaco's Conference League season begins on October 15, but Balogun will not be available to help the team, at least under the current squad list.

The club faces financial pressure to sell Balogun or another high-value player in order to comply with French league financial regulations. Scuro has acknowledged that a departure remains possible if an offer arrives from a country where the transfer window is still open — one option being Saudi Arabia, where transfers can be completed until October 12.

Meanwhile, Japan international midfielder Takumi Minamino has returned to Monaco's squad list. He was sidelined for eight months with a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that also kept him out of the World Cup. Unlike Balogun, Minamino has been included in the squad for the away match against PSG.