Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images
Despite signing Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco already this summer, Chelsea are continually being linked with new midfielders. The latest is “one of the best midfielders in the world”.
Chelsea sold Andrey Santos to Man United for around £50m this summer, but the Blues have since brought in Henderson for his experience. Barco was bought before the arrival of manager Xabi Alonso.
Enzo Fernandez and Enzo Maresca hugging graphic
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
To the naked eye, Chelsea look well-stocked in midfield. But that could easily change in the next few weeks, with Enzo Fernandez strongly linked with Man City, while Dario Essugo may leave temporarily.
Romeo Lavia is also subject to interest, with Monaco among his suitors. Ironically, it is a Monaco star that Chelsea are now considering to bolster their midfield options, in the form of highly-rated Lamine Camara.
Filipe Luis is a big admirer of Monaco ace Lamine Camara
According to reports, Chelsea are among the clubs eyeing Camara after Crystal Palace saw a £43m bid rejected for the Senegal international. Nice Matin claims that Monaco want a £51m fee to sell him.
Liverpool FC v AS Monaco - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Lewis Storey – Danehouse/Getty Images
Likened to Sergio Busquets and N’Golo Kante, 22-year-old Camara is also subject to interest from Man United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich, PSG and Real Madrid. Not a bad list of suitors.
Currently, he remains with Monaco, where former Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis has taken charge. Luis was among the names considered to take over from sacked Liam Rosenior before Alonso was given the job.
On the weekend, Monaco beat Liverpool and Camara sparkled. After the match, Luis told French outlet L’Equipe that he believes Camara is “one of the best midfielders in the world” at the moment.
The stats show Camara is a mix of Caicedo and Fernandez
These days, a midfielder cannot literally be a central midfielder. Caicedo is a holding midfielder while Fernandez is an attacking midfielder that makes Frank Lampard-type runs into the penalty area.
The stats show that Camara, however, ruins that modern suggestion. This is a player that can do a bit of everything, a true no.8. Defensively solid, accurate with his passing, but able to score and create too.
Statistical Comparison: Camara vs. Chelsea Midfielders
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Parameter (Per 90) Lamine Camara (Monaco) Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Age 22 24 25
Pass Completion % 84.8% 88.2% 88.4%
Tackles + Interceptions / 90 3.22 3.45 2.90
Chances Created / 90 1.85 1.10 1.82
Goals + Assists (2025/26) 7 G/A 4 G/A 14 G/A
Shot Volume / 90 1.22 0.82 1.53
Ground Duel Win % 54.5% 58.1% 56.2%
Last season’s stats show that Camara often sits between both Fernandez and Caicedo. For tackles and interceptions per 90, goals and assists, shot volume per 90, and ground duels per 90, he’s in the middle.
Interestingly, Camara created more chances than Fernandez did per 90 last season, though it has to be said that his passing was not as accurate as either Chelsea midfielder. Nevertheless, a top midfielder.
Fernandez has often been deemed too attacking to go alongside Caicedo in a 4-2-3-1, or a 3-4-2-1. It saw Rosenior play him as a 10, or even wide left. Camara would solve that issue if Chelsea sign him.