Newcastle United are bracing themselves for the possible departure of Sandro Tonali, with reports suggesting they are ready to move quickly for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.
Tottenham Hotspur made the first major move in their pursuit of midfield reinforcements last week when they submitted a bid for Tonali.
The £80 million offer would have smashed Spurs’ transfer record, eclipsing the £64 million they paid for Dominic Solanke a few seasons ago.
Newcastle, however, swiftly rejected the bid as it fell short of their £100 million valuation, though Tottenham are expected to return with an improved proposal for Tonali.
Newcastle line up Lamine Camara as Tonali replacement
Newcastle do not want to lose Tonali, but there is an acceptance that he could depart this summer with interest not only from Tottenham but also Arsenal and Manchester City.
With it looking increasingly unlikely that the Italian will remain at St James’ Park, the Magpies have begun preparing for life without him.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle are “ready” to use funds from a potential Tonali exit to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.
The report adds that Eddie Howe’s side are prepared to “move quickly” for Camara, a long-term target, to ensure they are not beaten to his signature.
The Magpies have been monitoring the 22-year-old closely, and Monaco are understood to be open to a sale if the right offer arrives.
Tottenham have also been credited with interest in Camara, which makes things even more interesting.
Camara’s rise adds intrigue to Newcastle’s midfield plans
Camara is valued at €40 million (£33.8 million) by transfermarkt and is highly rated at just 22 years old. He featured 24 times for Monaco last season, scoring three goals and providing four assists in Ligue 1.
His versatility is another asset, having played both as a defensive midfielder and in central midfield, splitting his appearances across the two roles.
Currently away with Senegal at the World Cup, Newcastle are aware that strong performances could raise his price further and attract more suitors, though Senegal have struggled with defeats to France and Norway in their opening two matches.
| Player & Season | Duel % | Poss won | Prog carries | Fwd passes | Fwd pass % | Key passes | Prog passes | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Tonali (25/26, Newcastle, 26) | 74.5 | 46.8 | 68.1 | 73.1 | 37.3 | 48.4 | 67.6 | 2821 |
| L. Camara (25/26, Monaco, 22) | 71.8 | 84.5 | 31.7 | 79.2 | 69.7 | 50.5 | 78.7 | 2033 |