Manchester United are still looking at Lamine Camara, but Monaco are making it clear that signing the Senegal midfielder won’t come cheap.
Lamine Camara has emerged as one of the names United are considering as they look for another option in midfield. Liverpool and Chelsea have also been linked with the 22-year-old, while Crystal Palace have already tried their luck and failed.
The Palace proposal was worth €50 million (£42.5m), but Monaco turned it down. Their position has become even clearer since, with reports suggesting that even €60m wouldn’t be enough to get a deal done.
Lamine Camara could give Manchester United something different
United have already brought in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer, so another midfielder would have to offer something different.
That was arguably clear in the recent defeat to AC Milan. Bruno Fernandes and Tielemans can both make things happen with the ball, but United still need someone who can sit in front of the defence and give the team more protection, especially when out of possession.
That could be where Camara comes in.
The 22-year-old is highly regarded across Europe. Manchester United are preparing for a bigger fixture calender this season as they will be competitng on four fronts including Champions League and the domestic competitions.
Lamine Camara joined Monaco from Metz in 2024 for a reported €15m (£12.8m). Monaco could now receive more than four times that figure for a player who has only been at the club for two years.
Monaco don’t need to sell
There is another reason United might struggle to get Camara.
Monaco-Matin via Sports Witness report that the player is open to staying at the club for another season. He isn’t trying to force a move, which means Monaco can simply wait for someone to meet their asking price. And so far, nobody has.
Palace’s €50m offer wasn’t enough. The latest reports suggest an improved bid of €60m could also be rejected. For United, that creates an obvious decision. They have already spent big on their midfield, and paying another huge fee would need to make sense.
Camara’s age and potential make him an attractive option, particularly if Carrick wants a midfielder who can provide more cover for the defence. But United won’t want to spend that sort of money unless they are convinced he is the right player.
The interest appears to be genuine. Whether it goes any further will probably come down to how highly Manchester United rate Camara and whether Monaco are willing to lower their demands.
For now, the French club hold all the cards. Lamine Camara is happy at Monaco, his contract situation gives them a strong position and their asking price remains firmly above the €60m mark.
