Crystal Palace have submitted an offer for Lamine Camara | OneFootball

Crystal Palace have made an offer to AS Monaco for highly rated midfielder Lamine Camara, according to Foot Mercato.

The Eagles are looking to steal a march on their domestic rivals in the race for midfield reinforcements.

Camara has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s standout box-to-box midfielders after a stellar campaign at Stade Louis II.

Known for his combativeness, crisp passing, and dynamic ball-carrying in transition, the Senegal international possesses the qualities Palace are eager to add to their midfield.

Despite Palace making the first concrete move, securing Camara’s signature will require navigating a fiercely competitive market.

Nottingham Forest are actively preparing a counter-offer, while Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester United remain on alert, monitoring developments as both clubs consider late-window moves to strengthen their midfield.

The main obstacle for all suitors remains Monaco’s strict valuation. The Monegasque club are under no pressure to sell their prized asset, who is contracted until 2029, and are holding out for a fee of €50 million.

Having signed Camara from Metz in 2024, Monaco view the Senegalese midfielder as a core pillar of their sporting project and do not want to sanction an exit unless their full price tag is met.

For Crystal Palace, lodging an official bid signals clear ambition from the Selhurst Park hierarchy to compete for top-tier European talent. The Eagles are also close to signing Zavier Gozo after fending off interest from multiple clubs.

However, whether they can meet Monaco’s €50m asking price before Nottingham Forest submit their offer or before Liverpool and Manchester United formalise their interest remains to be seen.

With several Premier League clubs in contention, the race for Camara is shaping up to be a high-stakes transfer battle in the final weeks of the window.