Who is Lamine Camara? The Monaco midfielder wanted by four Premier League teams

One club shows an interest in a player, then suddenly three or four others pop up to declare that they, too, are interested in that same individual. This sometimes leads to bidding wars or late hijacks of moves during transfer windows.

This might be the immediate future for Lamine Camara, a 22-year-old Monaco midfielder who suddenly finds himself at the centre of attention of no less than four different Premier League sides.

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With Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Manchester United already having shown interest in the Senegal international, a report has added Chelsea to that list of admirers, with Monaco placing a €50 million valuation on their player after a standout World Cup with the Lions of Teranga.

But Camara isn't just some shiny toy that clubs will fight over to prove their social status. The midfielder would bring a particular set of skills to whichever team he represents.

Here are three factors that have convinced suitors to spend big on Camara this summer.

A big engine

If you watch a match with Camara on the field, the first thing you notice about him is that he never stops running.

The modern game requires midfielders to be able to run for days, and Camara easily fits that mould. His ability to cover the entire pitch means he can press throughout the match, helping turn the ball over in opportune areas and also getting into advantageous spots while on the attack.

A lack of effort will not be one of Camara's downfalls.

Tenacity

Standing at 5-foot-8, Camara is not going to physically intimidate the opposition.

Instead, he will hound opponents with the aforementioned ability to run for days, but when the situation calls for a bit more hard-nosed action he won't shy away.

Camara has shown to be extremely fond of tackling, and he combines that with a keen sense of timing so he won't be picking up senseless fouls very often. Instead, he will go into a tackle with just two things in mind: winning the ball or blocking it. 

Long-range threat

A modern midfielder has to have something that separates him from the countless others who can run and tackle a lot, and for Camara it's his ability to shoot from outside the box — with power and accuracy — that sets him apart.

While he's not going to compete for any Golden Boot awards, Camara has shown that he can pop up with a timely goal from distance, which is a handy tool to keep opposing defences honest while also opening up spaces for his teammates as opponents need to devote at least one player to preventing his long-range attempts. 

 

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