Lamine Camara has returned to training with AS Monaco following the collapse of his proposed transfer to Chelsea on transfer deadline day. The Senegal international was seen participating in Wednesday morning’s session in La Turbie, just hours after his anticipated move to Stamford Bridge fell through.
Camara had appeared set for a switch to the Premier League, with a deal reportedly agreed in principle between Monaco and Chelsea. However, the transfer ultimately broke down, leaving the 22-year-old midfielder to remain with the French Ligue 1 club.
Monaco’s Transfer Strategy Unravels
The breakdown of Camara’s move was closely linked to AS Monaco’s broader transfer strategy. The club had reportedly hoped to offload Folarin Balogun, the USMNT forward, to fund other dealings. Balogun’s potential move to Everton had also been revived after an initial setback involving a failed medical, but this transfer too ultimately collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
As a result, both Lamine Camara and Folarin Balogun remain at AS Monaco for the foreseeable future. The double setback leaves Monaco with two players who had been expected to depart during the transfer window.
Ansu Fati Returns
Amidst the transfer drama, there was some positive news for the Principality club. Ansu Fati, who joined Monaco from Barcelona, returned to training with his teammates. Fati has not featured for Monaco since his move was made permanent, and his return could offer a boost to the squad.
While Camara was present at training, Balogun was not. Reports indicate that Balogun was still in England in the early hours of Wednesday and had also been sidelined with an injury prior to his aborted move to Everton, explaining his absence from the first-team session.
With the primary European transfer windows now closed, Camara and Balogun will need to reintegrate into the Monaco squad. The markets in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, however, remain open, potentially offering alternative destinations, though no specific developments have been reported for either player.