Brighton Join Newcastle and Aston Villa in Race for Monaco Midfield Star as Price Tag Climbs Above €50m
AS Monaco could soon find themselves at the centre of one of the Premier League’s biggest transfer battles of the summer, with several English clubs preparing moves for one of the club’s brightest young talents. After another impressive campaign in Ligue 1 and on the international stage, Monaco are aware that keeping hold of the midfielder will not be easy.
Brighton & Hove Albion are the latest club to register serious interest, with reports suggesting they have been monitoring the player for months. The Seagulls have built a reputation for identifying emerging stars before they reach elite-market prices, and they now see Monaco’s midfield ace as a potential long-term replacement should they lose one of their current stars.
However, Brighton are not alone. Newcastle United remain firmly in the race as Eddie Howe continues his ambitious summer rebuild. The Magpies are looking to reshape key areas of the squad following a frustrating transfer window that has already seen them miss out on several targets. Club officials are determined to add more athleticism, creativity and defensive quality in midfield before the new season begins.

Sources close to the situation claim Newcastle are preparing a transfer strategy worth around £105 million, with several high-profile targets on their shortlist. The club continue to monitor Johan Manzambi and Dutch youngster Sean Steur, while the Monaco midfielder has emerged as another priority capable of strengthening Howe’s options immediately.
Aston Villa are also refusing to back away. Unai Emery’s recruitment staff have reportedly followed the player’s progress extensively over the past year, sending scouts to multiple Ligue 1 fixtures as well as international matches involving Senegal. Villa believe his versatility, technical ability and tactical intelligence make him an ideal fit for Emery’s demanding style of play.
Monaco, meanwhile, are under no pressure to sell. The Principality club value the midfielder extremely highly and are understood to be demanding between €44 million and €56 million before entertaining negotiations. Any interested club will likely need to submit a significant opening offer to convince Monaco to begin discussions.
With Brighton, Newcastle and Aston Villa all monitoring developments, the race could quickly develop into a bidding war over the coming weeks. Newcastle’s financial backing gives them confidence, but Profit and Sustainability regulations mean they must still spend carefully. Brighton will hope their excellent record of developing young players works in their favour, while Villa can offer European football and the opportunity to work under Emery.
As the transfer window gathers pace, all eyes will remain on Monaco’s next move. Should one club meet the asking price, negotiations could accelerate rapidly and trigger one of the biggest midfield transfers involving Ligue 1 this summer.
The player attracting such intense Premier League interest is Lamine Camara, the highly-rated Senegal international, whose outstanding performances for AS Monaco have made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young midfielders.