Chelsea open transfer talks with AS Monaco for £51m midfielder Lamine Camara | OneFootball

Chelsea have commenced talks for the transfer of AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Camara is being touted as the Blues’ replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who appears set to join Manchester City before the transfer deadline in a club-record deal.

They are prepared to complete the signing of Camara for £51 million over the weekend.

Speculation regarding Fernandez’s future intensified after talks resumed despite Chelsea’s initial deadline passing.

The Blues expect to receive more than £120m for the 25-year-old Argentina international, but will only let him leave if a suitable replacement arrives.

He was left out of their squad that took on League One outfit Luton Town in the second round of the Laague Cup in midweek, presumably because talks are advancing.

Former Metz man Camara is an all-action midfielder who is not cut from the same cloth as Fernandez, who has thrived for his goalscoring knack in recent seasons.

The Senegalese midfielder will be an intriguing choice to replace Fernandez because he provides more defensive cover, allowing him to seamlessly play in a pivot.

He combines his defensive aggression with progressive passing and creativity from deep, enabling him to be deployed as a deep-lying playmaker.

He offers a different profile to Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott.

Liverpool have also been linked with the midfielder, but Chelsea appear to be ahead of them in the race to sign him.

Crystal Palace had a bid rejected by AS Monaco earlier this summer, but negotiations with Chelsea appear to be going well.