Chelsea have agreed a £47m deal to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco.
The Blues will sign the midfielder on a six-year deal (with the option of an additional year), David Ornstein reports on X (formerly Twitter).
Liverpool were thought to hold some competing interest in the Senegalese international but failed to escalate matters after initially scoping out the potential transfer back in July.
Chelsea win Lamine Camara “race”
It would be pushing the envelope somewhat to suggest there was any kind of an open race for Camara’s signature this summer.
That said, one does have to wonder why on earth Liverpool apparently opted not to keep informed on the possibility of a deal with Monaco late in the window, given their own clear needs in midfield.
🚨 Chelsea reach agreement with Monaco to sign Lamine Camara. Deal for 22yo midfielder worth £47m to #ASMonaco. Senegal international completed medical + joins #CFC on 6+1yr contract after Fernandez exit; set to arrive in London on Wednesday @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/I04qEjuSFg
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 1, 2026
We do accept that Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai formed a key part of a Liverpool midfield that helped return the Premier League title to Anfield in 2024/25.
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However, at a deal below £50m – a small miracle, one might reasonably add, in the current market – it’s hard to sympathise with Liverpool’s recruitment team.
Liverpool are asking a lot of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch
Liverpool’s argument may very well be that Gravenberch provided evidence of defensive instincts in our title-winning campaign under Arne Slot.
Szoboszlai, on his end, has demonstrated the necessary engine and legs to thrive in an Iraola system.
But the pair have also, need we remind the powers that be, proven to be frustratingly forward-minded even at the obvious expense to the team’s structure and ability to handle rapid counters from opponents.
Okay… then there’s the reasonable argument around Andoni Iraola’s coaching credentials. Why couldn’t the former Bournemouth boss help the pair curb their offensive instincts when necessary and provide better protection to the backline?
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Look, we’re not saying that Camara is the final piece of the puzzle that makes this Liverpool side magically tick. But we can all agree that the club is in a more comfortable position with a midfield operator who has proven to be more than adept against the ball for Monaco.
We back Iraola to improve the players he has available, but it’s hard not to feel infuriated with a recruitment policy that seems opposed to making the manager’s job easier.
We are finished we will win fuk all
Grow a pair, snowflake.
Switch back to the winning 433 and put nyoni there as DM. Get lamine in Jan. 4231 doesnt suit us and I dont know why we change to this formation. If it is to accommodate isak and wirtz, this is a failed experiment and it is silly to change the squad for players you want to buy. We should buy players to suit our formation, tactics and identity.
We are still paying the price for last summer’s mistakes. Full backs not good enough
Wirtz and Isak struggling.
We are on the second head coach with these players and nothing has changed from last season.
Iraola now has to get on with what he’s got.
Which isn’t good enough to win anything.
4231 wont get scrapped, because of wirtz.
OH NO THEY DIDN’T