Photo by Mustafa Yalçın/Anadolu via Getty Images
Photo by Mustafa Yalçın/Anadolu via Getty Images
It was impossible for Chelsea to resurrect their deal to sign Lamine Camara from AS Monaco despite Folarin Balogun deciding not to join Everton.
Monaco were open to selling one of Camara or Balogun to generate some money, but it looked like their preference was to offload the latter.
Like with Camara, that deal was on and off, but at the very end of the transfer window, Balogun seemed set to join Everton.
As a result, Monaco called off Camara’s move to Chelsea, confident that Balogun would sign for Everton and bring them in a nice fee. However, Balogun opted to remain in France in a shock U-turn.
By then, it was way past the transfer deadline, and according to BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Monaco had not signed a deal sheet for Camara. It meant that Chelsea could not revive their deal for the midfielder despite Balogun’s decision to stay at Monaco.
All in all, the whole thing has been a massive mess, which is set to bring about some serious ramifications on and off the pitch.
On the pitch, Chelsea are obviously significantly weaker in midfield post-deadline day. Camara was meant to replace Enzo Fernandez, who joined Manchester City.
Off the pitch, Chelsea and Monaco’s relationship is now “completely broken”, says Fabrizio Romano.
With that in mind, it would be a surprise if Chelsea returned for Camara in the future. The Senegal international is a talented midfielder with a lot of potential, but at this stage, Chelsea have to be thinking about blacklisting Monaco.
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In terms of alternatives, then, Chelsea also looked at Manu Kone before the transfer window closed. They could revisit that again at some point next year.
For now, Xabi Alonso is going to have to make do with what he has got. Hopefully both Reece James and Romeo Lavia can remain fit. Their importance to Alonso has just gone up following Fernandez’s sale and the Camara debacle.