Everton launched offer to sign £52m Balogun alternative on deadline day

You can almost picture the scene. Dead silence sweeping across the boardroom, heads in hands, and Folarin Balogun’s plane heading back to Monaco. It’s the stuff of nightmares for just about any club, but for Everton it was their disastrous reality on deadline day.

They went from signing the American, to finding a problem in his medical to the player himself opting out of a move after so much toing and throwing. David Moyes has now been left with just one striker in Thierno Barry after Balogun failed to arrive and Beto left for Fiorentina.

The Scot is expected to take Everton into European contention this season, though he may argue that he simply hasn’t been handed the resources to do so.

As for Balogun, he simply felt disrespected as the Toffees searched for alternatives whilst he sat in Merseyside waiting. In the end, it was a step too far when Everton attempted to reignite their move.

Monaco chief Thiago Scuro explained exactly what happened to Balogun’s deadline-day move earlier this week, saying: “Five minutes to close the transfer window there, for us to finish all the paperwork between Monaco and Everton and Balo. I signed the contract. Everton signed the contract. At the last moment, the players decided not to sign.

“And basically, Balogun’s allegation is that I’m not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health. I have nothing, so I’m not comfortable signing a long contract here.”

It left the Toffees scrambling in the final stages of the window and saw them turn towards Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli.

Everton launched last-minute offer to sign Abde Ezzalzouli

REUTERS/Jon Nazca

As reported by Mundo Deportivo in Spain and relayed by Sport Witness, Everton made a late offer to sign Ezzalzouli from Real Betis. The Toffees submitted a last-minute bid worth €43m (£37m), only for Betis to reject that offer and point towards the forward’s €60m (£52m) release clause.

Of course, that would have made Ezzalzouli the most expensive player in the club’s history. In the end, however, Everton opted out of a move and chose not to trigger the winger’s release clause.

They weren’t the only side linked with the Betis star in the summer, either. After scoring 15 goals and assisting another 13 in all competitions last season, the 24-year-old also found himself on Newcastle United’s radar. Ultimately, however, he remained a Real Betis player.

Whether Everton or Newcastle revive their moves when the January transfer window swings open is now the big question.