AS Monaco’s summer window has left a residue of unfinished business. With the squad now carrying an imbalance between its attacking depth and shortages elsewhere, the club are preparing for departures when the January market opens.
Key takeaways
- Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro expects players to leave during the winter transfer window.
- The club’s wage bill is under DNCG supervision, making outgoing deals financially significant.
- Folarin Balogun turned down Everton after Monaco had reached an agreement for his transfer.
- Balogun, Lamine Camara and Aleksandr Golovin all came close to leaving during the summer.
- Monaco have several central-forward options, including Mika Biereth, Matthis Abline and Paris Brunner.
AS Monaco face January correction after difficult summer
Scuro admitted he was not satisfied with Monaco’s work during the summer transfer period, when potential exits for Balogun, Camara and Golovin did not materialise. Those sales could have brought welcome income to the Principality club at a time when its payroll is being regulated by the DNCG.
The Brazilian executive made clear that January will be used to address the situation. “We will obviously see players leave this winter; it is important,” he said.
Monaco will also consider moves that improve the overall construction of Filipe Luis’ squad. Scuro said the club would act if an opportunity emerged to create a better balance, with the current group heavily stocked in attacking areas while lacking alternatives in other positions.
Balogun refusal altered Monaco’s plans
The clearest missed departure involved Balogun. Monaco had agreed a deal for the striker to join Everton, but the United States international rejected the move at the final stage.
“We had an agreement with Balogun,” Scuro said, adding that the collapse of the transfer had changed the club’s approach for the winter. Finding a solution for the forward had been part of Monaco’s original plan, although Scuro acknowledged that the club cannot control every decision that will shape the January window.
Balogun remains part of a crowded centre-forward department. Brunner has earned the confidence of Filipe Luis, while Biereth and summer arrival Abline provide further options through the middle. That depth may give Monaco room to reshape the squad in January, but Scuro believes corrective action is now needed after a summer that did not deliver the balance the club wanted.
SEO title: AS Monaco prepare January exits after troubled summer transfer window
SEO description: Thiago Scuro says AS Monaco expect winter departures as the club seek to ease DNCG wage constraints and rebalance a forward-heavy squad.
