Lamine Camara
Lamine Camara was close to signing for Chelsea on deadline day(Image: Kevin Clement/Icon Sport)
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Chelsea's 2026 summer transfer window caused much division amongst supporters.
While many were pleased the Blues had tweaked their transfer strategy to bring more experienced players to Stamford Bridge, others felt as if the failure to sign a central midfielder will cost them this season. Some shared both views.
After Enzo Fernandez departed on deadline day for a club-record sale of £125million, Chelsea went in hard for Lamine Camara and agreed a £47m deal, only for AS Monaco to pull out at the last minute.
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With that said, football.london takes a look at Camara and a few others and how they have fared in the early part of the season.
Lamine Camara
After his club pulled the plug on a deal to see him move to Stamford Bridge, Camara said a couple of weeks ago that he had "turned the page".
"There was a possibility I could leave," said the Senegalese midfielder. "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."
Unsurprisingly, the 22-year-old midfielder has been an ever-present figure in a high-flying Monaco team. Filipe Luis' team have won four and drawn one of their opening five Ligue 1 matches and are currently top of the standings.
Manu Kone
Chelsea considered making a late move for Kone in the summer transfer window but AS Roma blocked an exit for the France international. And Kone has started the season well for the Rome-based outfit.
In five Serie A matches, four of which he started, the Frenchman has bagged two goals. Just like Monaco, Roma are top of their league, with 13 points from a possible 15 in the Italian top-flight.
Xabi Alonso is said to be a big fan of Kone but it remains unclear whether Chelsea will go back in for the Roma midfielder when the January transfer window opens.
Manu Kone
Manu Kone was of interest to Chelsea over the summer(Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
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Granit Xhaka
After Xhaka rejected the chance to move to Chelsea in the summer, the Switzerland international has started the season off well for Sunderland.
Despite being 33 years old, Xhaka has played every possible minute of the Black Cats' Premier League campaign to date, while he also starred in an unforgettable Europa League win against AZ Alkmaar on September 16.
Chelsea travel to the Stadium of Light on November 8 and Xhaka will be hoping to show the Blues what they missed out on as he takes on his former manager Alonso.
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka rejected the opportunity to sign for Chelsea in the summer(Image: Carl Recine)
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Alex Scott
Chelsea saw a £64m bid knocked back by Bournemouth for Scott in July. The Cherries were adamant they would keep hold of the 23-year-old midfielder beyond the summer transfer window - and so it proved.
However, with less than two years left to run on his existing contract at the Vitality Stadium, Scott's future down on the south coast is in doubt. Chelsea remain firm admirers of the England international but it remains to be seen whether the Blues will act on their interest when January is here.
Alex Scott
Alex Scott remains firmly of interest to Chelsea(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)
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Scott has started the season off brilliantly for Bournemouth under new head coach Marco Rose, with the midfielder scoring one goal in the first five Premier League matches of the season - where he has played virtually every minute.