Monaco eyes Senegal’s Lamine Camara for midfield reinforcement
AS Monaco is poised to add another Senegalese talent to its roster, with Lamine Camara emerging as a top target. The 20-year-old Metz midfielder could become the third Senegalese player at Monaco, following in the footsteps of Ismail Jakobs and Krépin Diatta.
The need for midfield reinforcements at Monaco has become urgent with the impending departure of French international Youssouf Fofana and the confirmed exit of Malian international Mohamed Camara to Al-Sadd in Qatar for €20 million.
According to reports from L’Equipe, Monaco has set its sights on Lamine Camara, who has impressed with his performances for Ligue 2 side Metz.
Camara’s potential move to Monaco comes after the club’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Franco-Moroccan Neil El Aynaoui from RC Lens, which fell through due to medical concerns over El Aynaoui’s left knee.
This development has shifted Monaco’s focus to Camara, who is seen as a promising talent capable of filling the midfield void.
Monaco faces stiff competition in its pursuit of Camara. The Metz midfielder, under contract until 2026, has already attracted significant interest from other clubs.
Southampton has made an offer of €12 million, including bonuses, while Saudi club Al-Qadsiah tabled a €16 million bid, which Camara reportedly declined.
Monaco will need to act swiftly to secure Camara’s signature, with an offer expected early this week.
Lamine Camara’s stats from last season with Metz highlight his potential. He featured in 33 league games, including play-offs, contributing 2 goals and 5 assists.
His journey from Génération Foot, a partner academy of FC Metz in Senegal, to becoming a key player for Metz in Ligue 2 has been remarkable.
Camara has also made a mark on the international stage with the Senegalese national team, earning 10 caps and scoring 3 goals.
His notable performances include a stunning goal against Gambia during the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
One of Camara’s standout moments came on October 22, when he scored a spectacular goal from 58 meters against Monaco in a Ligue 1 match, underscoring his long-range shooting prowess.
This remarkable goal likely played a part in piquing Monaco’s interest in him.
Should Youssouf Fofana depart as expected, Camara would have a golden opportunity to secure regular playing time at Monaco.
The move would represent a significant step up for the 1.73-meter midfielder, providing him with a platform to showcase his abilities at a higher level and potentially in the Champions League.
Joining Monaco would also offer Camara the chance to further his development and fulfill his considerable potential.
Monaco’s pursuit of Lamine Camara underscores the club’s commitment to strengthening its squad with young, promising talent.
As negotiations progress, it remains to be seen whether Monaco can fend off competition from other suitors and successfully bring Camara to the Rock, where he could follow in the footsteps of fellow Senegalese stars and make a significant impact.
🚨🇲🇨 L’AS Monaco va transmettre une offre en début de semaine pour Lamine Camara (20 ans) ! 🇸🇳
Metz a reçu des offres de 12M€ de Southampton et de 16M€ d’Al-Qadsiah. 💰
🗞️ @lequipe pic.twitter.com/fZqJlaJaZr
— BeMunegu 🇲🇨 (@BeMunegu) July 28, 2024
