Balogun Snubs Everton as Window Slams Shut — Vardy Weighs São Paulo Switch

Should have, would have, could have. That's the refrain echoing around Premier League fanbases today after the transfer window slammed shut at 11pm last night, freezing all dealings until the winter window opens. Nobody is feeling the sting quite like Everton. As reported by Guardian Football, the Toffees were on the verge of landing United States international Folarin Balogun in a dramatic deadline-beating move — only for the deal to collapse at the final hurdle. The forward reportedly completed a medical at Goodison Park, which flagged an issue. Everton returned to Balogun's club, Monaco, renegotiated terms, and even had a deal sheet drawn up. Then, in the cruelest twist, Balogun simply decided the move wasn't for him. For a striker with one eye on the 2026 World Cup — a tournament Balogun's nation will co-host — regular football matters enormously in the seasons ahead. Whether he has a clearer path to minutes in Monaco remains to be seen, but turning down a Premier League platform a year out from football's biggest showpiece is a gamble few would take lightly. The failed swook leaves Everton alarmingly light up front. David Moyes' side have now lost two attacking players this window, with Beto departing for Fiorentina and Iliman Ndiaye sealing a move to Manchester City. What looked like a squad refresh has instead become a raid, and the club will spend the coming months clawing at the glass like a cat watching a pigeon it cannot catch. Meanwhile, the saga of Jamie Vardy continues to rumble on. The 38-year-old, who left Leicester City after their relegation, is reportedly weighing options in Brazil with São Paulo against a return to English football with Sheffield Wednesday. A move to South America would be a fascinating curveball in the closing act of a remarkable career — and a rare glimpse of English striking talent in the continent that will host the 2026 World Cup final's qualifying giants. For clubs and players alike, the message from this window is clear: with the World Cup on the horizon, every decision carries extra weight. Everton's hierarchy will now spend the international break confronting the consequences of a deal that slipped through their fingers. Read the full report at Guardian Football.