Chelsea’s deal to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has been cancelled in the final hour of transfer deadline day.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chelsea had a €45 million (£38.5m) bid for Camara rejected by Monaco, while their follow-up offer of €50m (£42.8m) was also turned down.
Chelsea finally reached an agreement with Monaco worth €55m (£47.1m) as the Ligue 1 side need a sale and their £40m deal to offload Folarin Balogun to Everton hit a complication around two hours to go until the end of the Premier League transfer window.
However, Monaco have now pulled out of their agreement with Chelsea as Balogun’s move to Everton is now going ahead following a renegotiation.
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According to talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, Chelsea are furious with Monacoas the Ligue 1 side believe they can receive a €70m fee for Camara.
Liverpool are also said to have contacted both Monaco and Camara that they will make their move next year.
‘For those who are unaware, Chelsea tried twice for Lamine Camara, €45m and €50m, but it was rejected. Why? Because Monaco felt in a strong position to keep the player because they thought Flo Balogun was off to Everton, and he still might be,’ Jacobs told talkSPORT.
‘Flash forward, Chelsea sell Enzo Fernandez [to Manchester City], late in the day there’s a question mark over Balogun, the French window closed earlier than this window so Monaco weren’t even able to bring in a replacement because Balogun is still being registered in their EU spots.
‘Then about two hours ago, Monaco get cold feet and say if there’s any doubt about Balogun we need to go to Chelsea and do this deal [for Camara] for €55m. By the way, two days ago they quoted Behdad Eghbali €70m, Chelsea say, ‘thanks very much, we’ve got a great deal here’, it’s formalised, we wait and see if it’s gone to a deal sheet.
‘Suddenly Monaco get double the cash for Lamine Camara and Flo Balogun but they couldn’t take the risk of Balogun getting done because they need money immediately.
‘Chelsea, even an hour ago, were formalising this move with complete confidence because from their perspective, Monaco were cashing in on both players.
‘My understanding is that Monaco still believe they can still get €70m and they want to keep the player now.
‘Chelsea view this as deeply unprofessional. Chelsea thought they were going to announce this evening on a six-year contract with a one-year option, the player was keen on the move.
‘Liverpool made a call this evening, and more than one I am told, to say the camp of Camara wait, and to say to Monaco wait, because Liverpool don’t want Lamine Camara now, Alexis MacAllister is still at the club, Liverpool said to Monaco, ‘wait’, Liverpool said to Camara, ‘wait’.
‘To be clear, so this is not taken out of context, we’re not saying Liverpool interfered in the deal relating to Chelsea, we are saying all day, Liverpool said to Monaco and Camara, ‘if you do not get your move, we will be back for you potentially in 2027’.
‘And that is a factor in this story because Monaco’s belief is that they can get €70m, they had to give a cut-price deal because at the point they agreed with Chelsea they needed the money, now Balogun is likely to Everton and the whole situation in a matter of minutes has changed.’
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