Aston Villa are actively pursuing Monaco’s Lamine Camara, Villarreal’s Pape Gueye, and Parma’s Mandela Keita following a severe injury to midfielder Amadou Onana, according to TEAMtalk. Onana ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty with Belgium, and the club now anticipate he will be sidelined for an extended period, likely until 2027.
Prior to Onana’s injury, manager Unai Emery was content with his central midfield options of Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Boubacar Kamara. However, the severity of Onana’s setback has prompted Villa to accelerate their plans to reinforce the position. The club has already completed extensive scouting work on Camara, Gueye, and Keita, identifying them as potential targets.
Lamine Camara has emerged as a promising talent in Ligue 1 with Monaco, attracting interest from several Premier League clubs including Newcastle United and Liverpool. His playing style is reportedly considered a good fit for both clubs, with Newcastle potentially viewing him as a long-term replacement for Bruno Guimaraes. Pape Gueye, formerly of Marseille, has impressed with Villarreal in LaLiga and is also a target for Everton. Belgium international Mandela Keita has established himself as a key player for Parma in Serie A, drawing attention from Everton and Leeds United.
Villa face competition from other Premier League sides for all three players, meaning they may need to act quickly to secure their targets. All three midfielders have been on Villa’s radar for some time, even before Onana’s injury. Emery has made strengthening the midfield a priority to ensure the squad has sufficient depth and quality to compete on multiple fronts during the upcoming season. The long-term absence of Onana has significantly altered Villa’s summer transfer strategy, shifting midfield recruitment to the top of Emery’s agenda.
