The Premier League transfer window slammed shut at 11 pm on Tuesday night, but naturally, there was enough time for some drama to steal the morning headlines.
Liverpool, despite not actively planning to make any late signings, found a way to get themselves involved, as Chelsea saw the rug pulled out from under them by AS Monaco.
The Blues wanted to sign Lamine Camara to replace Enzo Fernandez, but when Folarin Balogun decided against joining Everton at the last moment, Monaco cancelled a deal with Chelsea for Camara.
Reporting on X, Jacobs has broken the news: “After reaching a full written club-to-club agreement with Chelsea for Lamine Camara, Monaco have gone back on their word. €55m deal for Camara is now off. Having renegotiated the Balogun deal with Everton, Monaco have now reneged on the agreement they had already reached and confirmed in writing with Chelsea. Chelsea view this as deeply unprofessional.”
BREAKING: After reaching a full written club-to-club agreement with Chelsea for Lamine Camara, Monaco have gone back on their word. €55m deal for Camara is now off.
Having renegotiated the Balogun deal with Everton, Monaco have now reneged on the agreement they had already… pic.twitter.com/qqEYx9kJRp
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) September 1, 2026
Ben Jacobs reported amidst the drama last night that Liverpool told Camara to wait for them until 2027.
He said: “Liverpool Football Club made a call this evening and more than one to say to the camp of Lamine Camara to WAIT, to say to Monaco to WAIT, because Liverpool don’t want Camara now [this summer].
“They never explored it. Alexis Mac Allister is still at the club but my understanding is that Liverpool said to Monaco wait, Liverpool said to Camara WAIT. Liverpool didn’t interfere in the deal relating to Chelsea. We are saying all Liverpool did was tell Monaco and Lamine Camara to wait, if you don’t get your move… we will be back potentially in 2027.”
?? "#LFC made a call this evening to say to the camp of Camara & Monaco to 'wait'…"
? "They said we will, potentially, be back for you in 2027 if you don't get your move."
Ben Jacobs exclusively reveals how Chelsea's deal for Lamine Camara fell through at the final moments pic.twitter.com/aXpCSy6LMM
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 1, 2026
Monaco initially wanted €70m and were willing to accept €55m from Chelsea right before the deadline, but will more than likely sell him in January now to ensure they stay onside of financial restrictions. Monaco’s precarious financial situation is the reason why they needed to sell either Balogun or Camara last night, but they ended up selling neither.
This would mimic the deal Liverpool arranged for Luis Diaz in 2022, when Porto needed to make a sale in order to prevent any consequences for imbalanced books.
It’s an absolute mess for them, but the result is that Liverpool now have a chance to sign Camara in January after telling him to wait for them.