{"id":3863,"date":"2026-09-09T08:01:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T08:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3863"},"modified":"2026-09-09T08:01:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T08:01:57","slug":"david-ornstein-names-the-player-chelsea-almost-signed-xabi-alonso-needs-him-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3863","title":{"rendered":"David Ornstein names the player Chelsea almost signed, Xabi Alonso needs him right now"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Chelsea\u2019s deadline day descended into chaos as the club missed out on AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Camara was on the verge of joining Chelsea<\/a> until Monaco performed a U-turn and decided to keep hold of the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n

\n

However, Camara was not the only player who was close to signing for the Blues<\/a> during the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

With Enzo Fernandez gone and Lamine Camara staying at Monaco, who should partner Moises Caicedo in midfield this season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Romeo<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Manu Kone was \u2018very close\u2019 to joining Chelsea<\/h2>\n

According to the very reliable David Ornstein, before prioritising Camara, Chelsea were interested in signing Manu Kone<\/a> from AS Roma and nearly landed the Frenchman.<\/p>\n

Ornstein told The Athletic<\/a> FC podcast: \u201cManu Kone from Roma. He came very close to joining Chelsea before they pivoted to Camara.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Manu<\/div>
Photo by Elianton\/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini had no intention of letting him go, though, and was able to keep hold of his midfielder.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Xabi Alonso<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Xabi Alonso could do with Manu Kone right now<\/h2>\n

Fernandez\u2019s departure is one reason why Alonso would welcome Kone to Chelsea today if he could. The Blues look so light in midfield at present.<\/p>\n

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 \u00a3200m double pivot to that is unbelievable. How have BlueCo let this happen? <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n