Sources: "Likely..." - Chelsea & Liverpool ready to battle for €75m midfielder transfer | OneFootball

Lamine Camara is fast emerging as one of the most talked-about names ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window, standing out as one of Monaco’s most valuable players.

The Ligue 1 giants have a history of cashing in on their best players when bigger clubs come calling, and my understanding is that they’re expecting Camara to be their big sale this summer.

The 22-year-old Senegalese talent has established himself as the heartbeat of this Monaco side thanks to his consistency, maturity, physical resilience, and ability to maintain a high tempo. These qualities have caught the attention of several Premier League giants, and Monaco’s traditional “develop and sell high” policy is now being applied to Camara.

I’m told that Chelsea and Liverpool are among the clubs closely monitoring him, having scouted him for some time. Chelsea are keen to rejuvenate their midfield, while Liverpool’s tactical approach continues to rely on high-energy midfielders, making Camara an attractive target.

“Chelsea have explored the French market a lot in recent times and they’re big admirers of Camara’s profile,” one source said. “It’s not clear yet if he’d be a priority, but he’s on their radar, while Liverpool and Newcastle will likely be there too.”

Lamine Camara transfer won’t come cheap as Monaco set their stance

From Monaco’s perspective, the club would not be opposed to selling Camara but they’re also in no rush. With a stable financial position, I’m told they’re confident they can afford to wait for an “astronomical” offer.

Camara’s current contract runs until 2029, with no release clause, giving Monaco full control over negotiations. “Monaco are open to doing business, but unless someone comes in with an offer in the €65–75 million range, which Premier League clubs are capable of paying, they’ll say no. There’s no pressure on them to sell, and they’d rather keep him as his value could rise even further.”

Lamine Camara one of many midfielders set to move

It’s already well-established that this summer could see a lot of money changing hands for top class midfield players.

In the Premier League alone, we can expect movement for the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, and possibly other big names like Enzo Fernandez, Mateus Fernandes, and Joao Gomes.

With the likes of Anderson and Tonali likely to cost upwards of £100m, Camara stands out as a potentially cheaper option on the market, but with just as much quality. Despite Monaco’s resistance to being bullied into selling on the cheap, the financial power of Premier League clubs could ultimately bring this saga to an end in England.