Erik Lira still hoped for by Monaco on deadline day | OneFootball

According to Nice-Matin, Monaco still hope to confirm the arrival of Mexico midfielder Erik Lira from Cruz Azul today, with the move linked to Folarin Balogun’s proposed switch to Everton.

On Tuesday 1 September, the final day of the window, the 26-year-old needs the Principality club to vacate one of their four non-EU slots to complete a first move to Europe. Talks have taken time but are said to be trending positively.

Cruz Azul president Victor Velazquez said he had been informed Monaco had freed a non-EU place and that the transfer process was close to completion, adding negotiations had been lengthy but the conditions improved.

Lira had not yet boarded a flight on Tuesday, though that could change within hours. Cruz Azul are understood to have lined up right-back Alan Mozo, a move that would allow Jeremy Marquez to step into midfield.

Lira featured for Mexico at this summer’s World Cup and impressed for his aggression and work rate in a 4-3-3. Monaco head coach Filipe Luis faced him with Flamengo at the Intercontinental Cup in December 2025, when Lira operated in central defence. He could become only the second Mexican to play for Monaco after Rafael Marquez, a 2000 league winner and 2003 League Cup champion.

Source: Nice-Matin

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”