Chelsea missed out on Camara at the last minute – Monaco pulled out of written agreement

Chelsea had a medical, personal terms and a written agreement in place for Lamine Camara. Then Monaco refused to submit the paperwork before the deadline – and Liverpool called the player amid the chaos.

Chelsea thought they had secured Enzo Fernández's replacement. Then Monaco changed their minds in the final hours of the transfer window, leaving a written agreement for Lamine Camara in tatters.

When Enzo Fernández left Stamford Bridge for Manchester City for £125 million, Chelsea had already identified the man to take his place in midfield. Lamine Camara, the 22-year-old Senegal international, had agreed personal terms with the club, completed a medical and was due to sign a contract until the summer of 2032, with an option for a further year.

Sky Sports reported that the clubs had agreed a fee of around £47 million. Then everything ground to a halt.

The paperwork never arrived

Monaco never submitted the documents needed to register the transfer before the 11pm UK deadline. Fabrizio Romano summed it up briefly: “AS Monaco cancel Lamine Camara-Chelsea deal after a written agreement between clubs.”

Chelsea are said to have described the handling of the deal as “deeply unprofessional”. The club believed the deal was done and had planned to announce the signing that evening.

Balogun deal's collapse proved the final straw

The explanation is linked to another transfer that fell through that evening. Monaco had rejected two earlier Chelsea bids, of €45 million and €50 million, in the belief that Folarin Balogun was on his way to Everton. The French window closed earlier than the English one, and when Balogun's move collapsed in the final minutes, Monaco were left unable to bring in a replacement. They then chose to keep Camara.

The asking price is now reportedly €70 million – far above the fee the clubs had already agreed.

Liverpool intervened

Liverpool also played a part in the chaos. According to several English media outlets, the club contacted both Monaco and Camara's camp as the evening went on, asking the player to wait. With Alexis Mac Allister still at Anfield, there was no urgency for Liverpool, but they are said to have indicated that they could return in January if Camara is still available.

For Camara himself, the evening ended in disappointment. He was reportedly deeply disappointed to be left at Monaco after being told the deal was done. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed the club's vice-captain.

Chelsea, meanwhile, ended the window without a direct replacement for Fernández in midfield. Their next chance comes in January – with a much higher asking price looming over them.

Source: Sky Sports