Inside Everton's transfer window: No Balogun, no Ndiaye, and a squad with one striker and a left-back

Everton’s late, chaotic transfer window twist left them without Folarin Balogun, after the forward told the club he would not be signing shortly before midnight—an hour after the Premier League deadline passed. Emergency talks with Balogun and his camp failed to change his decision. Everton’s situation worsened after Beto’s exit to Fiorentina, leaving them with only Thierno Barry as their lone senior striker until at least January. Everton had seemed close to a Monaco deal worth an initial £40 million plus £5 million in add-ons, but concerns emerged from GPS data related to Balogun’s medical, prompting amendments. After all parties signed, Balogun still refused to sign.