Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle are in contention to sign Lamine Camara, the 22-year-old AS Monaco midfielder and Senegal international. According to Media Foot, the three English clubs are willing to invest heavily to secure the player this summer, in a deal that promises to be one of the most sought after until the market closes.
Camara arrived at Monaco from Metz in July 2024 for 15 million euros and, since then, has gained value with 71 appearances for the Principality team. Recent reports (May 2026) point to a valuation of between 40 and 50 million euros, although Monaco have maintained a higher bar of between 65 and 75 million. A rumor even circulated about a competing proposal worth around R$85 million.
After a disappointing season, which will place Monaco in the UEFA Conference League, the club is preparing an expanded sale of assets, which could give interested parties negotiating room — even if the race remains competitive and expensive. Newcastle have been following the player closely with several trips to France throughout 2026 and the conviction is growing, in some circles, that the midfielder could go to St. James' Park. Still, Liverpool is also named in the dossier, which expands the range of candidates.
In terms of the player, Camara would welcome a move to Tottenham or Aston Villa. In the case of the Villains, guaranteed presence in the Champions League weighs heavily on the decision of an athlete with European ambitions. And there is financial muscle: Villa's structure is prepared to provide Unai Emery with a budget of up to 100 million pounds to reinforce the squad with a view to a new foray into European competition next season.
It remains to be seen whether Camara is, in fact, a priority need for Emery. Villa's midfield has Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara as references, with Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley as accredited alternatives. Douglas Luiz returned on loan, but did not find his best level again (only 12 games as a starter in the Premier League), and his future must go through another break — a scenario that opens up a real vacancy in the sector.
Profiled as a midfielder with a large radius, defensively responsible and capable of playing as a '6' or '8', Camara fits what Emery seeks for the heart of the team. Celta de Vigo’s Ilaix Moriba is also being pursued for the same position, but Camara appears as an option with a higher competitive ceiling. Letting the Senegalese escape and opting for cheaper solutions may be pragmatic, but it risks proving short for a club that wants to establish itself at the highest level. For Aston Villa, this summer is about consolidating and raising the bar — and Camara could be a central part of that plan.