Lamine Camara: Chelsea hopes of reviving £47m transfer revealed as Monaco confirm new conditions | OneFootball

Liverpool have also been linked with the Monaco midfielder

Monaco have admitted that a Lamine Camara sale could be possible in the January transfer window, putting both Chelsea and Liverpool on alert.

The Senegal international was close to joining Chelsea in the summer as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who left to join Manchester City for £125million on transfer Deadline Day.

Furthermore, Camara was expected to sign a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge with the option of a further year, only for the French club to pull the plug on the deal at the last minute after an extraordinary U-turn.

The Blues continue to be linked with the midfielder, as are Liverpool, and hopes of reviving a deal in January have been raised with Monaco’s CEO Thiago Scuro revealing the club’s transfer plan.

In order to comply with French football’s financial rules, Scuro has confirmed Monaco want to sell former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun in the winter window, which would allow Camara to see out the season at the Stade Louis II.

“The original plan is to find a solution for Balogun. If we find that, it will give Monaco the opportunity to keep Lamine and Golovin until the end of the season," Scuro told RMC Sport.

"That is the ideal plan, but we can’t control the decisions and what will happen in the winter."

With no guarantee of finding a buyer for Balogun, it will be interesting to see if Monaco’s hand is forced should an offer arrive for Camara in the new year.

Folarin Balogun holds the key to Monaco’s January transfer plans

AFP/Getty

Speaking for the first time after his £47m move to Chelsea collapsed, Camara has said he is focused on the season with Monaco having “turned the page” - though didn’t rule out the possibility of a future transfer.

"There was a possibility I could leave," Camara explained before Monaco's draw with Strasbourg last Saturday. "It didn't go through at the last minute and that's part of football. I've turned the page and am focusing on the season.

"I can help the team a lot. Football moves fast. Maybe other opportunities will come along. But for now, I'm staying focused on the season with Monaco."