Chelsea receive official Lamine Camara transfer warning

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

AS Monaco boss Filipe Luis has admitted that “all the big clubs” will be interested in signing Lamine Camara following his failed move to Chelsea on Transfer Deadline Day.

The Senegal midfielder was on the verge of joining Xabi Alonso’s side on Tuesday evening, with a medical completed and personal terms fully agreed, but Monaco pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute.

Current ETV

Lamine Camara

M, DM (C)

Monaco

Lamine Camara

M, DM (C)

Monaco

€29.9M

ETV Range

€26.9M - €32.8M

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Chelsea had seen two offers rejected on Deadline Day and opted to walk away from a transfer, before reaching a €55 million agreement after the sale of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City.

Monaco had initially turned down Chelsea’s advances, but they made a u-turn after Folarin Balogun’s medical at Everton flagged an issue and the Toffees turned their attention to Joshua Zirkzee. This prompted Chelsea to strike a deal and the transfer was on the verge of being completed before it collapsed.

Instead, Everton renegotiated a new deal for Balogun with Monaco and the Ligue 1 club subsequently refused to sell Camara to Chelsea. However, Balogun ultimately refused to join Everton, leaving Chelsea furious at the situation and without a replacement for Fernandez.

The Blues will now have to make do with a midfield roster of Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco and Jordan Henderson until at least January, and they will face significant competition to sign Camara in 2027, with Liverpool among the clubs tipped to challenge for his signature.

Lamine Camara warning

When asked about Camara’s failed move to Chelsea, Monaco boss Luis admitted (via GFFN): “Probably, with everything, there is something in his mind that is affected. But, honestly, he is a special kid; he is a very special person. It is easy to work with him.

“The football world knows about Lamine. Other clubs are looking at him. If he just maintains [his level], it won’t just be one club – all the big clubs will come for him.”

Meanwhile, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro added: “As with many other players, better things will come in the future. This is not the end of the world. It’s just one possibility for a player on his level with his talent.

“I’m very confident that soon he will have even better options and offers than the one he had yesterday.”

Camara, 22, has played the entire 90 minutes in all four of Monaco’s matches so far this season and he is expected to start against Paris Saint-Germain on Friday night.