Juventus eye ex-Arsenal forward Balogun as alternative to Kolo Muani
Quick summary
Juventus are considering a move for Folarin Balogun as a backup option if their pursuit of Randal Kolo Muani falls through. Balogun, formerly of Arsenal, is currently at Monaco.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceJuventus have added Folarin Balogun to their list of centre-forward options, with the former Arsenal striker under internal discussion as the club’s pursuit of Randal Kolo Muani reaches a critical stage.
According to Tuttosport , Kolo Muani remains Luciano Spalletti’s first choice, but prising him from PSG will require an improved offer: Juventus can get close to €40 million in total, without quite reaching it, and guaranteeing the bonus portion may be the signal needed to convince Luis Campos that the Bianconeri mean business.
The sales-driven windfall from the Muharemovic situation has loosened the purse strings, and the directive is clear, a goalkeeper or a striker must be closed within days.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Randal Kolo Muani of Tottenham in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on January 04, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Balogun gives Juventus alternatives to Kolo Muani Balogun fits the profile Spalletti has drawn up: physical, sharp in space and, above all, a finisher.
The American scored 19 goals in 43 games for Monaco last season, including a Champions League brace against PSG, and boasts an excellent availability record, missing just one match through injury.
Monaco, however, intend to fund their own market with his sale and have set a minimum price of €50 million, hoping interest builds into an auction.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Juventus are exploring alternatives in attack as their primary target Randal Kolo Muani remains difficult to sign. Folarin Balogun, who came through Arsenal's academy before spells at Middlesbrough and Reims, and is now at Monaco, has emerged as a potential alternative. The Italian club are reportedly looking for attacking reinforcement with Kolo Muani's situation complicated by PSG and RB Leipzig ownership dynamics. No concrete bid has been confirmed at this stage.
Chance analysis
This is a contingency transfer plan from Juventus rather than a confirmed pursuit. Balogun offers versatility and a Premier League/Arsenal academy pedigree that could appeal to Juve's recruitment model, but his output at Monaco has been modest. For prediction systems, this represents medium-term squad planning rather than immediate impact on upcoming fixtures. The Kolo Muani pursuit being complicated suggests Juve may need to pivot, making Balogun a realistic fallback rather than a primary target.
If completed, Balogun would add depth to Juventus' attacking options but is not expected to be a transformative signing; the move is contingent on the Kolo Muani deal falling through.
Juventus are actively seeking attacking reinforcement but Balogun is a secondary option, so immediate impact on their starting XI is unlikely unless Kolo Muani deal fully collapses.