Lamine Camara move to Chelsea collapsed on transfer deadline day. Monaco pulled out of a written agreement worth £47 million just after the window shut, leaving the Senegal international’s future unresolved.
The Blues had lined up Camara as a direct replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who joined Manchester City in a £125 million deal.
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Chelsea believed the transfer was complete, with Camara having already passed a medical and prepared to sign a six-year contract.
Monaco’s U-turn was tied to a separate deal for Folarin Balogun.
The French club had reopened talks on Camara once Balogun’s move to Everton appeared set, only to block the departure again when that deal fell through late in the day.
Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro addressed the collapse at a press conference.
He confirmed that Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had spoken directly with Camara during the saga, but called the club’s decision to withdraw “part of the game.”
Scuro also revealed that Camara had asked to leave Monaco.
He said he has since spoken with the player and reassured him that a major transfer will arrive “very soon,” adding that Camara “may even have better options than those available to him yesterday” — a remark widely read as a nod towards Liverpool.
Scuro said: “Lamin Camara requested to leave the club, but I spoke with him and reassured him that he will get a big transfer very soon, and he may even have better options than those available to him yesterday.”
That reference has taken on added significance following a report from Ben Jacobs.
The respected transfer journalist said on talkSPORT that Liverpool contacted Camara during deadline day to tell him they would be willing to sign him next summer if his move away from Monaco did not happen this window, as reported by This Is Anfield.
Jacobs said Monaco still believe they can command a fee around €70 million (£60 million) for the 22-year-old and want to keep him for now.
Liverpool have been aware of Camara for some time: Jacobs first revealed the club had been “offered” the midfielder before the deadline, alongside Chelsea, with Crystal Palace also having a bid rejected earlier in the window.
Liverpool have not signed a like-for-like midfielder this summer despite Curtis Jones leaving for Inter Milan in a €35 million deal.
Trey Nyoni is expected to see more first-team minutes as a result, but question marks remain over the balance of Andoni Iraola’s midfield options.
Jacobs indicated on deadline day that Liverpool were unlikely to move for Lamine Camara this window but suggested he could face a choice over waiting for them. He also linked a possible future opening to Alexis Mac Allister, should the Argentine leave in 2027.
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