Photo by Federico Pestellini/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Federico Pestellini/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara is showing what all the fuss is about following his failed move to Chelsea on deadline day.
Camara was set to join Chelsea in the final hours of the summer transfer window until Monaco decided to pull the plug on his proposed transfer. Understandably, it left Chelsea fuming and has damaged relations between the Blues and Monaco.
Camara does not seem too bothered, though, and is just getting on with things. That is evident from his performances this season, while stats also show that he is having a bright campaign.
For example, according to WhoScored, Camara is making an incredible 5.2 tackles per game. It is the highest average in the whole of Ligue 1!
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
Split image with four players, which includes: Bruno Guimaraes, Lamine Camara, Alex Scott and Manu Kone
In Monaco’s squad, Camara also has one of the highest pass success rates, with the 22-year-old completing 91.9% of his passes. With Moises Caicedo injured, he is exactly the kind of midfielder Chelsea have been missing.
Camara was set to come in as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, and while the Senegal international would not have been a like-for-like successor, Xabi Alonso would have still welcomed him. His midfield options have been limited this term, resulting in Reece James and Malo Gusto having to play in the engine room at times.
James and Gusto are both right-backs. That is not the kind of thing you want to see. James can do a job there, but it has become very obvious that Gusto is not a midfielder.
The good news for Alonso is Chelsea still appear to be interested in Camara and should sign the former Metz man or another midfielder in January. However, there is set to be a lot of competition for his signature.
It is thought that Chelsea could be involved in a five-way battle for Camara in the new year, with Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United all thought to be keen.
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Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images