Why Folarin Balogun has proven he'd take Leeds United's attack to next level
Leeds United would be getting one of Ligue 1 and the Champions League's best in Folarin Balogun.
After a slow start to the summer transfer window on the recruitment front, Leeds' window is starting to come to life.
With long-term target Harry Wilson secured and highly-rated defender Tarik Muharemovic shoring up the Whites' defence, further firepower in attack may be next on the transfer to-do list.
Balogun has scored 31 goals in 91 competitive games for AS Monaco, and is fresh off a World Cup campaign with the USA that saw him net three goals in four matches.
The 25-year-old is entering the prime years of his career now, and may feel as though he's got some unfinished business in English football after spells with Arsenal and Middlesbrough respectively.
And, what he achieved in 2025-26 will say to Leeds loud and clear that if they were to sign him, then Daniel Farke's attack force could be one of the most deadly in the Premier League moving forward.
What's Folarin Balogun's Ligue 1-leading trait that Leeds will love?
MOT Leeds News has discussed the potential for an awkward Balogun and Muharemovic Leeds reunion this summer.
Indeed, Muharemovic was the player Balogun fouled and picked up his controversial red card for whilst playing for the USA against Bosnia at the World Cup, with FIFA's disciplinary committee then suspending his one-match ban for a year, enabling him to keep playing in the tournament.
But if that wouldn't be a problem in terms of the dressing room dynamic at Elland Road, and should Balogun give the green light on a move to West Yorkshire, then the Whites have to push the boat out to go and get him.
In 30 Ligue 1 games last season, Balogun scored 13 goals and provided four assists, with only three players scoring more than him in the league.
On top of that, his 13.4 expected goals (xG), 11.0 non-penalty xG, 77 shots and 32 shots on target all ranked him in the top 6.2 percentile of French top-flight strikers.
Farke puts a big value on his strikers being able to link-up with the midfield and being good in possession, and Balogun ticks that box too.
His 297 successful passes, four assists, 24 chances created, 14 successful dribbles, 718 touches and 179 touches in the opposition box all ranked amongst the very best-performing strikers in Ligue 1 last season.
Balogun's dominance extended to the Champions League too, scoring five goals in 10 games and ranking in the top 6.7 per cent of strikers for his number of sprints (126) in the competition.
He was also among the top players in his position for his 27 shots, 288 touches, 49 touches in the opposition box, 18 fouls won and nine possessions won in the final third.
With Balogun showing his quality across Europe last season, what sort of position are Monaco in when it comes to his contract status, and does it work in Leeds' favour?
Why Monaco don't have long to cash in on Balogun
Balogun was still Arsenal's player up until the summer of 2023, where he eventually called time on his Gunners career after making just 10 competitive appearances for their first-team.
French giants AS Monaco would win his services, but up until last season, the American had scored just eight and four goals in his first two campaigns in all competitions.
So, his 19 strikes in 43 outings last term has undoubtedly seen his value skyrocket, with his stock now never higher.
Upon signing him from Arsenal, Monaco inked Balogun to a five-year contract, meaning his current deal is set to expire there in the summer of 2028.
That's now less than two years away, which may still sound far enough away in the future to some, should they keep Balogun this summer and his form dips next season, they may end up missing the boat to bank big money for him.
Even if he was to have another strong 2026-27 season with the French side, the fact he would then have just 12 months left on his deal this time next year would mean he'd need a truly excellent campaign to perhaps inflate his value any higher than it is right now.
So, Monaco may never get a better chance to sell Balogun than they do now, and Leeds could potentially use that as an element of psychology if they get round the negotiation table in order to convince them on a sale.