The truth behind Lamine Camara’s transfer to Chelsea

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Chelsea eventually agreed a deal with Monaco worth approximately €55 million (£47 million) for Camara, with the midfielder reportedly preparing to complete his medical and sign a long-term contract.

Yet, despite the agreement between the clubs, the transfer fell apart at the final stage.

Why did Monaco pull out?

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The major twist involved another Monaco player, Folarin Balogun.

Monaco were reportedly attempting to sell Balogun to Everton and had concerns about losing two important players during the same transfer window.

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When it appeared that the Balogun transfer could go through, Monaco decided they no longer wanted to sanction Camara’s departure.

Chelsea were left stunned by the decision.

Despite having reached an agreement over Camara, Monaco reportedly refused to complete the necessary deal sheet before the transfer deadline, effectively bringing the move to an end.

The situation became even more frustrating for Chelsea because Balogun’s proposed move to Everton subsequently collapsed as well.

In other words, Monaco ultimately kept Camara while also failing to complete the Balogun sale they had reportedly been relying on.

The collapse reportedly left Chelsea extremely unhappy with Monaco.

From the Blues’ perspective, they had negotiated an agreement, committed to the transfer and were preparing for Camara to complete his move.

Having Monaco pull out at such a late stage meant there was no realistic opportunity to find another solution before the deadline.

It also explains why reports that Chelsea simply failed to meet Monaco’s asking price do not tell the complete story.

Chelsea ultimately got close enough to agree a deal, but Monaco changed their position when the circumstances surrounding Balogun changed.

What happens to Camara now?

Camara will remain at Monaco for the time being, despite coming extremely close to becoming a Chelsea player.

The midfielder remains highly regarded and his failed move to Stamford Bridge is unlikely to end interest in his services.

Liverpool have also reportedly been monitoring the situation, meaning Camara could attract further Premier League interest in the future.

For Chelsea, however, the episode represents one of the most frustrating transfer collapses of the window.

The Blues had reportedly done enough to get the deal over the line. But Monaco’s late decision meant that a transfer which appeared almost certain to happen ultimately fell apart before the paperwork could be completed.

The truth is simple: Chelsea did not merely fail to agree a fee for Lamine Camara.

They reportedly reached an agreement worth around €55 million, only for Monaco to pull the plug at the final stage, with the failed Balogun transfer playing a crucial role in the decision.