LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Monaco's Lamine Camara during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Monaco's Lamine Camara during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool midfield target Lamine Camara insists he has “turned the page” on a failed move to Chelsea on deadline day, but hopes he can earn another transfer.
Camara was the subject of offers from Chelsea late in the transfer window as Enzo Fernandez closed on his £125 million move to Man City.
But a proposed £47.1 million switch to Stamford Bridge fell through in controversial circumstances, as Monaco pulled out of their agreement after the player underwent a medical.
The 22-year-old has been left to focus on Monaco before weighing up his options either in January or next summer, by which point Liverpool are likely to have entered the running.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, per GFFN‘s Luke Entwistle, Camara insisted he had “turned the page” on his disappointment.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz (R) is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz (R) is challenged by Monaco's Lamine Camara during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It’s true that it was a hectic moment, but as you know, that is part of being a professional footballer,” he explained.
“I tried to be professional and not think too much about it. I tried to turn the page and focus on PSG.
“Did I want to leave? That makes you think that I wasn’t living in the present with the team.
“There was the possibility [of me joining Chelsea]. At the last minute, it didn’t happen. These things happen.
“Take Julian Alvarez with Atletico Madrid, for example. It happens all over the world, and I’m trying to put that behind me as quickly as possible to focus on the season.”
Could Liverpool move for Lamine Camara in the future?
Though the claims are questionable, it has been suggested that Liverpool had been in contact with Camara’s camp when talks were underway with Chelsea, urging the Senegal international to bide his time.
Interest from Anfield is reliably reported and the expectation is that, following Curtis Jones’ sale and with doubts over Alexis Mac Allister’s long-term future, an approach could soon be made to Monaco.
For now, Camara’s focus remains on his current club, with the mindset that he must continue to perform to earn more offers.
“If another chance [to leave for a big club] doesn’t come up, it is because I threw in the towel or didn’t work hard enough,” he said.
“Football moves quickly and maybe other chances will come.
“For now, I am focused on what I can bring and on the season at Monaco.”
Monaco valued their No. 8 at around €60 million (£51.5m) in the transfer window just gone, lowering their demands late on as they looked to make one big sale to raise funds.
With three years left on his contract, it remains to be seen whether that asking price will be upheld if Liverpool were to make a move in either of the next two windows.
Barcola Tsimikas
Barcola Tsimikas
Football – UEFA Champions League – Liverpool FC v AtlÈtico Madrid – MD-1
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a training session at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)