The race for Lamine Camara is heating up, and Arsenal have just thrown their hat in the ring.
Chelsea came agonisingly close to landing the Monaco midfielder this summer. After cashing in on Enzo Fernandez in a deadline-day sale to Manchester City, the Blues lined up a £47 million deal for Camara as his replacement. Terms were reportedly agreed, but Monaco pulled the transfer at the last moment — and instead of cooling interest, that U-turn has only intensified it.
According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Arsenal have now joined Chelsea and Liverpool in the pursuit. Scouts from all three clubs were at Monaco’s stunning 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain last Friday, watching the Senegalese international pull the strings in a big result for Les Monegasques. With Monaco needing to balance the books, a January bid from one of the trio looks increasingly likely.
But is Arsenal’s interest genuine? Mikel Arteta already has a stacked midfield — Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly give him plenty of options across four competitions this season. Spending £47 million on Camara could eat into funds Arsenal would rather put toward an attacker, suggesting the Gunners may simply be keeping tabs on their rivals rather than preparing a serious bid.
Chelsea and Liverpool, on the other hand, would both gain real value from signing him. Spurs are also said to be weighing an approach, aware that Barcelona have scouted the 21-year-old too.
Whether Monaco cash in mid-season remains the key question — but for now, Camara’s suitors keep multiplying.