Chelsea have stepped up interest in Lamine Camara as Enzo Fernandez edges closer to joining Manchester City. Speculation surrounding Fernandez's future intensified after the Argentina international was left out of the squad for Chelsea's Carabao Cup win over Luton Town.
It is no secret that Enzo Maresca wants to reunite with the midfielder, even more so after Ballon d'Or winner Rodri was sold to FC Barcelona. Chelsea set a firm deadline for the Citizens to make a bid for Fernandez, whom they value at £120million, but that has long passed and the player featured off the bench as Xabi Alonso's side beat Fulham in their Premier League opener last Monday.
Replacement required before sale
Nevertheless, it is widely reported that Chelsea would still be prepared to sell the 25-year-old before deadline day next week – but only if they can bring in a suitable replacement first. To that end, Foot Mercato claim Alonso is stepping up efforts to sign Lamine Camara, after Chelsea joined Liverpool and Crystal Palace in the race to sign the Senegal international.
Palace have already had a bid rejected for the highly-rated 22-year-old, with Monaco refusing to sell for anything less than €50m (£42.8m). It is said Alonso has made enquiries about Camara and that the player is open to moving to Stamford Bridge, with all parties pushing to get a deal done over the weekend.
Alternative targets identified
Should they fail, Football.London report there are two other options Chelsea may pursue: England stars Alex Scott and Morgan Gibbs-White. The west Londoners interest in Scott is well-known but having already seen three bids worth up to £68m rejected by Bournemouth, a transfer this summer seems almost impossible.
Chelsea are one of many clubs keen on Gibbs-White but it is said the Nottingham Forest talisman would only consider leaving the City Ground for a Champions League club. But if former Chelsea defender and Monaco manager Filipe Luis is to be believed, Camara is the player Alonso should sign.
The former Brazil international recently heaped praise on his young star, calling him: 'One of the best midfielders in the world.
'Of everything I've seen, there's one player who has caught my eye: Lamine Camara. I've never seen anything like it from him in my 20-year career.
'He's a player of a very different kind from anything I've seen so far. His ability to manage things on the pitch and his concentration. He has a level that is way, way above average.'
