Balogun Left Off Monaco's Conference League Squad After Everton Move Collapses

A transfer that collapses at the last minute can throw anyone off balance. That is exactly what is happening to Folarin Balogun: the American forward was left off Monaco's squad for the Conference League after his move to Everton fell apart this week.

The New York born striker came close to signing with the English club for roughly 40 million pounds (about $54 million) on Tuesday, the final day of the summer transfer window for most European leagues. But the player himself decided to pull the plug on the deal. According to Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro, Balogun grew uncomfortable after Everton raised doubts about his physical condition during the medical examination.

The immediate fallout: he also will not travel with the team for Friday's Ligue 1 match against Paris Saint-Germain, since he was not included in the group that made the trip to the French capital. The club did confirm that Balogun has returned to training normally with the rest of the squad, though he has yet to log a single minute in any of Monaco's four matches so far this season.

The situation carries real weight for the Principality club. Monaco needs to generate revenue from sales to comply with French league financial regulations, and Balogun, along with a few other squad members, has been flagged as one of the players who could depart. Scuro was blunt on the matter, not ruling out a departure for the forward even after the European market closes, provided it is to a league where the window remains open.

So what would that option look like? Saudi Arabia stands out as the most viable destination, since its transfer market stays open until October 12.

Minamino Returns From Injury

While Balogun sits on the sidelines, there is some good news for Monaco: Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino reappeared on the squad list for both the Conference League and the match against PSG. The attacking midfielder was out for eight months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that also kept him out of the World Cup with his national team.

Monaco will open its Conference League league phase on October 15, and everything points to it doing so without Balogun on the roster, at least while his future remains uncertain. For now, the forward trains apart from the first team, waiting for a saga that began as a golden opportunity in the Premier League and ended up in complete limbo.