Lamine Camara opens up on failed Chelsea transfer

Chelsea's £47 million bid for Lamine Camara collapsed late on deadline day, and 10 days on, the Monaco midfielder gave his first account of how it fell apart.

Chelsea had already sold Enzo Fernández to Manchester City this summer and turned to the 22-year-old Senegal international as a replacement. Two earlier offers were rejected before Monaco agreed a deal worth €55 million, but the Ligue 1 side then made a U-turn to keep Camara after concerns arose during the medical of Folarin Balogun, whose own £42.5 million move to Everton was also in the balance. Neither deal was completed, and both players stayed put.

Speaking at a Monaco press conference on Friday, Camara addressed the situation directly.

Asked whether he had wanted to join Chelsea, he was careful not to sound eager.

He pointed to Julián Álvarez's move to Atlético Madrid as an example of how such deals can unravel, and said he was trying to move past it quickly to focus on Monaco's season. Three days after deadline day, Monaco won 2-1 in Paris, a result Camara said helped him put the episode behind him.

On the chances of another move materialising down the line, Camara left the door open without making any promises.

Fernández, for his part, has yet to score for Manchester City since his September move. Chelsea's search for a long-term successor in midfield now goes on.