Chelsea agree £38m deal to sign Liverpool target after Emiliano Martinez transfer

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Monaco to sign Lamine Camara, handing Manchester City a huge boost in their pursuit of Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues expressed interest in Senegal international Camara as Fernandez continues to push for a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Fernandez, who won the World Cup in 2022 before being sent off in this summer’s final, was hoping to join Real Madrid earlier in the summer but a dream move to the Bernabeu fell through.

Man City have continued to show interest, however, with Pep Guardiola’s replacement Enzo Maresca keen to reunite with a player he managed at Chelsea.

City missed the deadline Chelsea set to sell Fernandez for £120m but talks have continued in the past week despite their £86m move for Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Chelsea suggested they would ask for even more than the originally quoted £120m for Fernandez if the deadline passed but a deal is in the best interest of all parties as the Argentine was not even included in Sunday’s matchday squad against Brighton.

But Xabi Alonso has been waiting to sign a new midfielder before sanctioning Fernandez’s exit and has made Camara his top target.

Incoming Chelsea signing Lamine Camara (Picture: Getty)

The 22-year-old has enjoyed two impressive seasons at French side Monaco and earned 49 caps for Senegal, featuring heavily during this summer’s World Cup.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Crystal Palace were all heavily linked with Camara at the start of the summer window but Chelsea are set to win the transfer race.

Reports in France say Camara will sign for Chelsea in ‘the coming hours’ after the Blues agreed a £38m deal with Monaco.

Enzo Fernandez could be sold to Manchester City (Picture: Getty)

Camara’s arrival in west London will pave the way for Fernandez’s exit, providing Manchester City are willing to meet Chelsea’s steep demands.

Chelsea are working hard to sign Camara after welcoming World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez to the club from Aston Villa.

Martinez, who has immediately replaced Robert Sanchez as Chelsea’s No. 1, made his debut in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win over Brighton.

New Chelsea signing Emiliano Martinez (Picture: Getty)

Discussing Martinez’s signing, Alonso said: ‘It’s great to have him. We saw that even today.

‘Even if we conceded three goals, he had a straight impact and he helped the team really well. We are happy we have him.

‘He is a great personality and a great goalkeeper. His expression and his charisma influence the rest of the team.’