Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Chelsea are among the suitors battling for position in the race for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, and if Xabi Alonso needs any questions answering, he should speak to Lukas Hradecky.
Hradecky is currently at Monaco, having left Bayer Leverkusen last summer to move to the Ligue 1 side. It was the end of an era for the Finland star, having spent seven years at Leverkusen, playing 286 times.
Chelsea's pre-season results
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Of those 286, 107 came with Xabi Alonso in charge of the German outfit. Without a doubt, Hradecky’s best spell – and Leverkusen’s – came while Alonso was manager, winning the Bundesliga unbeaten.
Now, Alonso and Chelsea are battling the likes of Manchester United for Monaco’s Camara, along with PSG and Bayern Munich. Crystal Palace had a £43m bid rejected. Nice Matin say Monaco want £51m.
Lukas Hradecky is a massive fan of Chelsea target Lamine Camara
Hradecky might have hoped for more at Monaco in his first season, only managing 17 appearances. But it was enough to know that Monaco’s 22-year-old Senegal star Camara is one of the best midfielders about.
Belgium v Senegal - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32
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New Monaco boss Filipe Luis, the former Chelsea left-back, thinks Camara is one of the best midfielders in the world. He said as much after Monaco’s comeback pre-season win over Liverpool over the weekend.
Hradecky is also a fan of Camara. Speaking in a Monaco press conference back in April, Alonso stalwart Hradecky had this to say about Camara: “I don’t think he receives the recognition he deserves.
“Ever since winning the Africa Cup of Nations, I believe he has been one of our best players. So yes, Denis Zakaria has occasionally played a bit deeper in central defense, but the midfield is performing very well.
“And Lamine Camara is one of our key players in our current resurgence. I hope he stays fit. It is a pleasure to see him on the pitch and in the dressing room. He has character and is a great player for us.”
If Alonso needs convincing, he needs to call Hradecky
As things stand, Chelsea are well-stocked in midfield. They have waved goodbye to Andrey Santos and replaced him with Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco. Enzo Fernandez remains, for the time being.
Enzo Fernandez and Enzo Maresca hugging graphic
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Chelsea have set interested parties a deadline of 5pm to make a £120m bid for Fernandez. Today, it is being claimed that Tijjani Reijnders is close to leaving Man City, and that may be because of Fernandez.
It could be that City are raising funds and making room before splashing £120m to reunite Fernandez with Enzo Maresca. Camara can be his replacement, though he is slightly more defensive than Enzo.
If Alonso needs convincing regarding Camara, whether Fernandez stays or goes, then all he has to do is pick up the phone and speak to Hradecky. No doubt, he will get a glowing verdict in response.