Late-night transfer fallout sparks Chelsea-Monaco row

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 16:00 BST 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.