Transfer Talk: Premier League focus on Camara after AFCON displays

Lamine Camara could be the breakout star of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Senegal international scored twice in the 3-0 victory against Gambia on Monday. 

This added to the growing reputation of the Metz midfielder, who had already attracted the attention of some top Premier League clubs before the tournament. 

Ahead of Senegal's crucial Group C clash against Cameroon on Friday, we take a look at Camara's burgeoning career. 

Goal glut

Camara's first goal of the tournament was impressive but the second took the breath away. 

He scored Senegal's second in their victory over Gambia, with a well-placed finish that followed an incisive run into the box. 

His next effort saw him effortlessly stroke the ball home from the edge of the area with a first-time strike. 

It is already being talked about as a potential goal of the tournament and follows an even more audacious strike for Metz earlier this season. 

Back in October, Camara spotted Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn off his line in a Ligue 1 match and successfully lobbed him from his own half. 

It remains the only time the 20-year-old has scored in France but he now has four in nine appearances for Senegal. 

Yet while goals attract the headlines, Camara has far more to his game and is shaping up to become an all-rounder, who can do everything in midfield. 

Role models

Earlier this season, Camara spoke about his style and the players that inspired him. 

He said: "I would say that I am a box-to-box midfielder. That I like to help my team-mates with their runs and if I can, why not go and score?

"I have three role models. Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos, but my biggest role model, it's Idrissa Gueye. 

"Since I was little, I have drawn a lot of inspiration from him and now that I'm with him in the national team, I watch what he does, during training, off the pitch." 

Camara is comfortable at either end of the field. Like his idol Gueye, he is adept at breaking up play in deep areas, where he has the space to utilise his long passing. 

Yet as he is showing at AFCON, his skill and calmness also make him a major threat further forward. 

Mane path

So far, Camara has made the exact same journey as Sadio Mane did at the start of his career. 

Both started in their homeland at Generation Foot, before signing for Metz. 

With the diminutive midfielder rapidly attracting admirers, his future progression threatens to move at an even quicker pace than that of his star forward.

In a remarkable 2023, Camara was named in the Team of the Tournament when the Lions of Teranga won the African Nations Championship back in February. 

He moved to France later that month on a three-and-a-half-year deal, before winning the Player of the Tournament at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, as he again inspired Senegal to lift the trophy. 

Camara's debut at Metz in Ligue 2 came in April, followed by his Ligue 1 entrance this season. 

A January move had been mooted before the Africa Cup of Nations started, with Brighton, Chelsea and Liverpool all reported to be interested. 

Camara's exploits at AFCON threaten to further widen the race for his signature, with every goal increasing the transfer windfall that Metz can expect to eventually reap.