Tottenham Offered World Cup Star Who Once Played for Arsenal as De Zerbi Eyes Another Major Signing
Tottenham Hotspur could be preparing for yet another major move in what has already become a remarkable summer transfer window, with reports claiming that a World Cup star and former Arsenal striker has been offered to Roberto De Zerbi.
The player in question is none other than Folarin Balogun, the United States international who came through Arsenal’s academy before leaving north London to establish himself abroad. With Tottenham continuing to reshape their squad under De Zerbi, the striker could now sensationally find himself back in the Premier League — but this time wearing the shirt of Arsenal’s fierce rivals.
Spurs have already spent heavily this summer as De Zerbi looks to completely transform a team that endured another disappointing campaign. The Italian manager has wasted little time putting his stamp on the squad, with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes arriving from Newcastle United and West Ham United in deals worth a combined £185million.
The spending has not stopped there.
Central defender Jan Paul van Hecke has arrived from Brighton, while Marcos Senesi and Andrew Robertson have reportedly joined as free agents. Veteran goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has also been brought in and is expected to provide experienced cover behind Guglielmo Vicario and Antonín Kinský.
Despite spending more than £220million already this summer, Tottenham appear nowhere near finished.
Captain Cristian Romero is reportedly on the verge of leaving the club for Inter Milan, with reports suggesting the Italian giants have agreed a deal worth around £34million for the Argentine defender. That potential departure could force Spurs back into the market for another centre-back, while De Zerbi continues to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Tottenham have also been linked with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, while Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup is reportedly another target. Portuguese reports have even claimed that Spurs have submitted a £47million proposal for Schjelderup, underlining just how aggressive the club has been in the market.
However, the latest development could be particularly intriguing because of Balogun’s Arsenal connection.
According to a report published by The Sun on Tuesday, August 4, Balogun has been offered to Tottenham through intermediaries. The 25-year-old striker’s representatives have reportedly approached Spurs directly with a proposal, with De Zerbi and the club seriously considering whether to make an official move.
Monaco are also understood to be open to selling the forward if the right offer arrives.
Balogun, who remains under contract with Monaco until 2028, has already experienced the Premier League and knows English football extremely well. He came through Arsenal’s youth system after joining the club’s academy in 2008 and eventually made his senior debut for the Gunners in 2020 during a Europa League match.
He made 10 first-team appearances for Arsenal, scoring twice and providing one assist before eventually departing the club permanently.
During his Arsenal years, Balogun also enjoyed loan spells at Middlesbrough and Reims, with the latter proving particularly important in his development. His performances abroad eventually earned him a move to Monaco in 2023.
The striker has since continued to develop his reputation at international level. Balogun has represented the United States and was among the players who impressed at the World Cup, scoring three goals as the co-hosts progressed to the round of 16.
His club numbers have also remained eye-catching, with the forward reportedly scoring 18 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions last season.
For Tottenham, Balogun could provide exactly what De Zerbi is looking for: competition and another attacking option alongside Dominic Solanke.
But Balogun is not the only striker being considered.
Spurs have reportedly shown interest in Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, although there have been no direct discussions between Tottenham and Chelsea at this stage. Aston Villa and Newcastle are also believed to be monitoring Jackson’s situation.
Another blockbuster possibility is Victor Osimhen. Tottenham are reportedly considering the Nigerian striker, although his potential £60-70million price tag could make negotiations difficult.
Whatever happens next, De Zerbi has made it clear that Tottenham’s transfer business is far from finished.
The Italian recently described himself as being “like a shark” whenever he identifies a player he wants to sign, insisting that it becomes extremely difficult to stop him from pursuing his target.
De Zerbi has already completed a huge portion of his transfer project, but his latest comments suggest supporters should expect even more drama before the window closes.
And if Balogun really does arrive at Tottenham, the transfer would carry an extra layer of intrigue: an Arsenal academy graduate potentially returning to England to lead the attack of the Gunners’ biggest rivals.
With Tottenham already spending hundreds of millions and De Zerbi still hunting for another attacking “bomba”, the final weeks of the transfer window could be explosive.
