Monaco’s Striker Crisis: Balogun’s Injury Forces January Transfer Hunt
It’s crunch time for AS Monaco, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With United States striker Folarin Balogun sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, Monaco manager Adi Hütter is already eyeing reinforcements in the January transfer window. The timing couldn’t be worse for the Ligue 1 side, as they’ve hit a rough patch in both domestic and European competitions.
Balogun, who has been a key figure for Monaco since signing a five-year deal after leaving Arsenal last year, is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday. The recovery timeline? A grueling four months. That’s a massive blow for a team that’s already showing signs of fatigue, as evidenced by their recent struggles. Monaco failed to find the back of the net in their last two matches—a 3-0 Champions League loss to Arsenal and a goalless draw against Stade de Reims in Ligue 1.
Monaco’s Striker Shortage
With Balogun out, Monaco’s attacking options are limited to just two players: Breel Embolo and George Ilenikhena. While both are talented, the lack of depth up front is a glaring issue for a team with ambitions of competing on multiple fronts. Hütter knows this, and he’s not shying away from the challenge of finding a solution.
“It’s necessary that we have our eyes open,” Hütter said when asked about the possibility of a January signing. “This is our job to take a look at the transfer market.”
One name that’s already being floated is Randal Kolo Muani, the France forward currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Kolo Muani has been used sparingly by PSG coach Luis Enrique, and when asked about the possibility of bringing him to Monaco, Hütter couldn’t help but chuckle. “It sounds good,” he admitted, before adding, “But you have to be honest. We have to find a good solution for the second period of the season. Which striker, we don’t know exactly now. We have some profiles. We have to find someone who scores goals.”
Could Kolo Muani Be the Answer?
Hütter is no stranger to Kolo Muani’s talents. The Monaco boss followed the forward closely during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was a prolific scorer. “He scored lots of goals, he was really, really, really good there,” Hütter said. “He is a profile, maybe. But there are lots of other things. He is for sure not the cheapest one.”
While Kolo Muani would undoubtedly bring firepower to Monaco’s attack, his price tag could be a stumbling block. Still, with Monaco level on points with second-place Marseille in the Ligue 1 standings and seven points behind leaders PSG, the club may have no choice but to invest if they want to keep pace in the title race.
PSG Showdown Looms
Before any transfer decisions are made, Monaco faces a daunting task: a midweek clash against Ligue 1 leaders PSG. Hütter knows his team will need to be at their absolute best to pull off an upset. “Of course we want to win this game against Paris, but for this we need a perfect day,” he said. “They are unbeaten in Ligue 1, they are the favorites for this game. We are able to win against Paris but for this we need a top, top, top performance.”
It’s a tall order, especially with Monaco’s recent form and their depleted squad. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about football, it’s that anything can happen on the pitch.
Key Takeaways
- Folarin Balogun is out for four months after dislocating his shoulder and undergoing surgery.
- Monaco is actively exploring the January transfer market for a striker, with Randal Kolo Muani among the potential targets.
- The team is currently tied with Marseille for second place in Ligue 1, seven points behind PSG.
- Monaco faces PSG in their final Ligue 1 game of the year, needing a near-perfect performance to secure a win.
As Monaco navigates this challenging period, all eyes will be on Hütter and the club’s next moves. Will they find the striker they desperately need? Can they keep their Ligue 1 and Champions League hopes alive? One thing’s for sure: the January transfer window just got a lot more interesting.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
