Newcastle in face to face talks to sign £42m star

The demand for success at Newcastle United has never been higher, but manager Eddie Howe has certainly fallen well below the expectations he’s set for himself at St James’ Park this season.

He led the Magpies to Carabao Cup glory against Liverpool back in the 2024/25 campaign, subsequently ending a generational wait for a trophy on Tyneside.

The 48-year-old has even led the club into numerous Champions League group stages, something which has become a requirement with the fanbase.

However, Howe has failed to secure any form of European football during the current campaign, with his side sitting in a measly 13th place with just two Premier League games remaining.

As a result, the summer window will be a vital period for the manager as he attempts to lead the Magpies back towards the upper end of England’s top-flight in 2026/27.

Newcastle advancing talks to sign European star

In an attempt to bolster the senior ranks, Newcastle have been busy trying to identify new targets, leading to Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović being mentioned as a possible addition.

It’s been reported in recent days that the Serbian international is set to leave the Italian outfit on a free transfer when his current contract expires at the end of June.

The Magpies have already taken advantage of his current contract stalemate, subsequently entering talks with the player’s representatives over a move to Tyneside.

Vlahovic isn’t the only player currently on the hierarchy’s shortlist at present, as AS Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has emerged as a potential addition.

According to reports in France, the Magpies are accelerating talks with the Senegalese international over a summer move to join Howe’s side.

He also claims that the player himself has held face-to-face talks with Newcastle in recent days in an attempt to streamline a potential agreement before the window opens.

A fee in the region of €50m (£42m) has been mooted to complete a deal for the 22-year-old who’s featured 23 times in Ligue 1 during the ongoing campaign.

Why Camara would be Newcastle’s next Bruno Guimaraes

Whilst the 2025/26 campaign has been one to forget for Newcastle fans, it’s a scary thought to think about where they would have ended up if it wasn’t for midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

The Brazilian international has constantly starred at the heart of the Magpies’ midfield this term – as seen by his tally of nine goals, the most of any player in the squad.

He’s often popped up in key moments for Howe’s side, with one of his most memorable displays coming against Leeds United – as he registered a goal and an assist in the 4-3 triumph on Tyneside.

The £40m fee paid for his signature back in January 2022 now looks to be a phenomenal piece of business – especially given the rumours of a potential £100m exit this summer.

No fan would want to lose Guimaraes during the upcoming window, but the board have the perfect chance to emulate such a move with the signing of Camara.

Like the Brazilian, he would be joining the Magpies from a French club as an unknown quantity to many supporters, whilst having the chance to create a new history on the pitch.

At just 22, there’s no denying such a move would be made with one eye on the future, but there’s no reason the youngster can’t nail down a regular starting role next term.

His stats from the ongoing campaign demonstrate his talent in various areas – many of which could prove useful to Howe in his efforts to secure a new long-term deep-lying option.

In Ligue 1 this season, Camara has registered 1.6 chances created per 90, with 0.4 of his efforts being defined as big chances – a tally higher than 90% of players in France’s top-flight.

The Senegalese star, who’s been labelled “top-class” by analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson, has also completed 54% of his dribbles – reaffirming his quality with the ball at his feet.

Without the ball, the youngster has been just as impressive, as seen by his remarkable tallies of 7.8 ball recoveries and 2.7 tackles made per 90 in Ligue 1.

Like his previous numbers, they’ve both seen him rank highly among other players in the division, with only 3% of midfielders making more defensive contributions.

£42m for a player of Camara’s quality would be a phenomenal deal for all parties, with the player already showing huge interest in the prospect of a transfer.

He would certainly need time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, but there’s no reason why he can’t fill such a void for the foreseeable future.

Should the 22-year-old get anywhere near the levels of Guimaraes after his own move from France, the fans would have yet another favourite to adore for many years to come.