One source with connections to both Chelsea and Monaco said the clubs had "played with fire and got burned". Indeed, the late-night transfer drama that involved Folarin Balogun, Everton, Monaco, Lamine Camara and Chelsea saw all parties lose out. Camara - a 22-year-old Senegalese international midfielder - had been a target for Chelsea as they prepared for the £125m sale of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City.
But Monaco were adamant he was going nowhere for the fee Chelsea were willing to pay. "I've been speaking to them for the last 10 days," said Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro said. "At around yesterday we got contact from Chelsea.
The answer was the same: no." Instead, the Ligue 1 club had allowed United States international striker Balogun, 25, to fly to Merseyside to complete a £40m move to Everton. According to Monaco, Camara had agreed to stay with the club. With three hours remaining of the transfer window, Chelsea were content with their midfield options, despite the sale of Fernandez, after failing with enquiries for Camara and Roma's Manu Kone.
But issues with Balogun's Everton medical presented an opportunity for Chelsea. "Of course, Chelsea saw an opportunity," Scuro added. "'Monaco need money, Balogun is struggling there, let's go and try.' Chelsea called us and said: 'Maybe we can be the solution.' "At that moment, we had to open the door to discussions." Negotiations were back underway with Monaco at and a £47m fee was agreed shortly after.
Meanwhile, Everton failed to find alternatives to Balogun and revived their move with minutes before the deadline. Chelsea had completed all the necessary paperwork for Camara and did not need to submit a deal sheet - a request to the Premier League for additional time to complete a transfer, post the deadline. Monaco acknowledge Camara was disappointed after he had spoken to manager Xabi Alonso, passed a medical and signed a contract until 2033.
"What happened was that around our time, maybe a bit earlier, Everton realised there was no issue and decided they were ready to sign the contract [for Balogun]," Scuro told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. "As soon as we received that information, we came back to Chelsea and said there was no deal. Because that's also fair.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
