A £42m-rated former Arsenal academy graduate has been told to stay out of Old Trafford. Troy Deeney, speaking on CBS Sports, said a January switch for Folarin Balogun to Manchester United would set the Monaco striker back at a point when his career needs the opposite.

“No, no, no, not good for Man United, not good for Flo Balogun himself. It just doesn’t work,” Deeney told CBS Sports.

The warning lands as United, 17th in the Premier League, are hunting a centre-forward for the January window. Benjamin Sesko is out with a shin problem until 2027, and the club has been offered the chance to sign Balogun by his representatives, led by Jorge Mendes.

A record Deeney will not look past

Deeney’s objection is structural. In his view, United do not build an environment in which a number nine can succeed.

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“Man United haven’t given you a record in the last decade of a striker who has done well. They don’t give you the support mechanism for that,” he said.

He also argued the collapsed summer move to Everton would have suited Balogun better, citing the chance volume the Toffees generate. For Deeney, the Man United project would set Balogun back after a tournament in which the striker scored three goals in four appearances for the United States at the 2026 World Cup.

Why Monaco want him gone

The approach to United is not isolated. Balogun has reportedly been offered to Newcastle United, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Juventus as well, with Monaco willing to let him depart after young forward Paris Brunner took over as the first-choice striker at Stade Louis II.

The 25-year-old’s situation worsened over the summer, when a transfer to Everton fell through. According to reports, Balogun himself walked away from the deal after becoming unhappy with the line of questioning in his medical, and he has since been left out of Monaco’s European squad and restricted to brief Ligue 1 cameos.

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United’s shortlist is not short

Balogun is one option among several. Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has been named as another target for United’s January search. None of the links have been confirmed by United, and no agreement has been announced on Balogun’s side. The January transfer window opens on 1 January 2027.

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