Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in AS Monaco midfielder and rising star Lamine Camara as they look to improve their squad further under Unai Emery and the club's recruitment department in the forthcoming summer transfer window.
Villa's midfield has undergone quite a transformation in recent windows; they've added Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana, while they will also welcome back the lesser spotted Enzo Barrenechea in the summer once his currently excellent loan spell with Valencia ends. Outgoings have included Douglas Luiz, Morgan Sanson and Tim Iroegbunam.
While Emery's pool of options remains healthy - John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey being available have helped to cover the losses to injury of Onana and Barkley - a reassessing of the club's midfield department once this season ends is likely to take place.
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Camara, 21, is a Senegalese international who already has 23 caps and six goals for his country, only signed for Monaco from French counterparts Metz for £12.5m on a five-year contract last summer; despite being in a relegation battle with Metz and having to make the step up to a side in the Champions League, he has done so impressively.
One of those Champions League appearances came against Villa, when Camara helped Monaco win 1-0 in Villa's penultimate game in the group stages. He has played 30 times in all competitions this term, with Monaco sitting in fourth and chasing another Champions League campaign.
Because of his midfield engine and box-to-box style, Camara - who won Ligue 1's Young Player of the Year award in 2024 - has previously been compared to Chelsea favourite and former French international N'Golo Kante, who won the Premier League with the Blues and Leicester City and lifted the World Cup in 2018.
Everton and Fulham were both linked with moves for Camara last summer while he was still a Metz player, but offered the chance to play in Europe and remain in France, he eventually joined Monaco. Camara's performances this term, though, have prompted interest from the continent again.
Villa have reportedly sent scouts to watch Camara, who can also take a wicked free kick, in action for Monaco this term having also seen him up close when playing for the opposition back in January. Any offers would have to comfortably exceed what Monaco spent to sign him last summer, however.
