Folarin Balogun has left Arsenal to join Ligue 1 club Monaco on a five-year deal after impressing on loan at Reims last season, the two clubs announced on Wednesday. The 22-year-old has not played for the Gunners in a competitive match since netting 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances for Reims last term. According to a source at the principality club, Monaco paid an initial transfer fee of 30mn euros ($32.8mn) which could rise to 40mn euros.Balogun will undergo a medical before being presented to the press today. Despite scoring seven goals in 13 appearances for England’s Under-21 team, the New York-born Balogun switched international allegiance to the United States. He netted his first international goal in the USA’s CONCACAF Nations League final victory over Canada in June.Balogun came through Arsenal’s academy but only played 10 matches in all competitions for the club. Monaco lead the early Ligue 1 table with seven points after scoring 10 goals across their first three games.Lukaku completes loan to Roma from ChelseaRomelu Lukaku completed his season-long loan move to Roma from Chelsea after being welcomed as a hero by supporters. Roma are yet to make their official announcement but Serie A have confirmed that the deal is done on their list of completed transfers.Thousands of fans greeted Belgium striker Lukaku after he touched down at Ciampino airport just outside the Italian capital on Tuesday, his arrival a boost for Roma following a worrying start to the new Serie A season. Italian media report that Chelsea accepted Roma’s offer of around 6mn euros to take outcast Lukaku for this season, giving the Italians the striker they have been looking for since Tammy Abraham damaged knee ligaments at the end of last season.Lukaku has agreed to take a pay cut from nearly 11mn euros to around 7.5mn euros in order to move to Roma, who are operating under a Financial Fair Play settlement agreement made with UEFA. Roma have collected one point from their first two matches and their inability to convert dominance into goals was fully on display during Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Verona.Chelsea meanwhile have been trying to permanently offload Lukaku all summer in a bid to end a disastrous transfer which cost the Premier League club a 115mn euro purchase fee from Inter Milan and his whopping annual salary.Varane ruled out for ‘a few weeks’ as Man United injuries mountRaphael Varane has been ruled out for "a few weeks" as Manchester United’s injury issues pile up ahead of their Premier League trip to Arsenal. Erik ten Hag’s side head to north London on Sunday without several players for their final match before the international break. Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are currently out of action, while new signing Rasmus Hojlund has yet to make his debut due to a back complaint. Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Tom Heaton have missed the start of the campaign and now experienced French defender Varane faces a spell on the sidelines.Frankfurt’s Muani skips training to force PSG moveFrench international forward Randal Kolo Muani skipped training with Eintracht Frankfurt, as he continues to try to force a move to Paris Saint-Germain. The German club confirmed Kolo Muani, 24, had chosen to miss the training session due to "his desire to be transferred to another club before the transfer window ends on Friday evening." The club confirmed Kolo Muani would not play in today’s Europa Conference League qualifier at home to Levski Sofia. The away tie in Bulgaria finished 1-1, with Kolo Muani scoring Frankfurt’s goal. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Kroesche said "we know Randal differently and know his real character", saying "the behaviour has no influence on transfer activities."The forward’s contract in Frankfurt runs until 2027. Frankfurt are reportedly holding out for a bid of 100 million euros ($108 million) from PSG for the forward.Kolo Muani moved to Germany from Ligue 1 side Nantes on a free transfer in 2022 and had a breakout season in Frankfurt, scoring 23 goals and making 17 assists in 46 games.
August 30, 2023 | 11:56 PM