David Ornstein names the player Chelsea almost signed, Xabi Alonso needs him right now

However, Camara was not the only player who was close to signing for the Blues during the summer transfer window.

With Enzo Fernandez gone and Lamine Camara staying at Monaco, who should partner Moises Caicedo in midfield this season?

Manu Kone was ‘very close’ to joining Chelsea

According to the very reliable David Ornstein, before prioritising Camara, Chelsea were interested in signing Manu Kone from AS Roma and nearly landed the Frenchman.

Ornstein told The Athletic FC podcast: “Manu Kone from Roma. He came very close to joining Chelsea before they pivoted to Camara.”

Indeed, there were plenty of rumours about Kone signing for Chelsea on deadline day. In fact, it was even claimed that Chelsea and Kone had agreed personal terms.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini had no intention of letting him go, though, and was able to keep hold of his midfielder.

In contrast, Xabi Alonso failed to have that kind of success with Enzo Fernandez and was forced to watch him join Manchester City at the very end of the transfer window. Painful.

Xabi Alonso could do with Manu Kone right now

Fernandez’s departure is one reason why Alonso would welcome Kone to Chelsea today if he could. The Blues look so light in midfield at present.

They went to the Emirates last weekend with a midfield of Reece James and Romeo Lavia and were eventually playing with James and Malo Gusto in the engine room, two right-backs! Going from a £200m double pivot to that is unbelievable. How have BlueCo let this happen?

We are all blaming Monaco, a club we will undoubtedly be hate-watching this term after the fiasco with Camara. But Camara, Kone or another midfielder should have been snapped up well before deadline day.

The moment Fernandez made himself unavailable to play, Chelsea should have signed a replacement. Chelsea could sign Alex Scott in 2027 to fill the hole that Fernandez has left, but Alonso would have loved to plug it now.