Aston Villa targeting move for “brilliant” former Chelsea midfielder as cover for injured Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)

Aston Villa are navigating a strong season, sitting third in the Premier League and chasing silverware in the Europa League, but a major blow has hit their midfield.

Boubacar Kamara, arguably Villa’s most influential player, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after a knee injury, leaving Unai Emery scrambling for reinforcements as the club eyes January options.

A solution could now be on the horizon…

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has emerged as a potential solution for Villa following Kamara’s setback, according to The Telegraph.

The 29-year-old, currently at AC Milan, spent much of his career in England with Chelsea before loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham. Former manager Scott Parker once hailed him as “brilliant,” a testament to the midfielder’s technical ability and versatility.

Loftus-Cheek has featured 23 times for Milan this season, but Villa see him as a capable short-term replacement to stabilize the midfield. Kamara’s absence is a serious blow: the Frenchman has been pivotal to Villa’s unbeaten record in most of the games he’s started, and the club now faces the challenge of maintaining their Premier League push without him.

Kamara first limped off in Villa’s FA Cup defeat at Tottenham on January 10, and further scans revealed the damage is worse than originally feared. It’s the second major injury since his free transfer from Marseille, following an eight-month layoff in 2024 with a ruptured ACL.

With finances tight—highlighted by the £25 million sale of Donyell Malen to Roma last week—Emery must balance the need for reinforcements with budget constraints. Loftus-Cheek, with his Premier League experience and technical quality, could provide exactly the kind of midfield cover Villa need to stay in contention on all fronts this season.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.

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