According to Calciomercato, AC Milan have set their sights on Mady Camara. However, they are not the only ones interested in the services of the Olympiacos midfielder, with Arsenal also keeping tabs. Camara was valued at somewhere around €25 million, but that could go down due to the Coronavirus pandemic, according to the player’s agent.
Mandy Camara: Player profile
Camara initially joined Olympiacos in 2018, for an undisclosed fee from AC Ajaccio. He didn’t take much time becoming a key member of his new team, notably making 24 league appearances during the 2018/19 campaign. This season, the midfielder had already notched up 22 appearances in the Greek Super League before the league got suspended due to the Coronavirus.
A holding midfielder by trade, Camara is a proactive operator in the middle third of the pitch. He is always willing to close down the opposition while he is also capable of clearing loose balls. This becomes essential when playing against a top tier opposition, that are more likely to dominate possession.
Another key feature in Camara’s name is his vicious right foot. Indeed, the Guinean international is dangerous from long-range. He is often on the lookout for space outside the box, which allows him to test the goalkeeper. The midfielder’s long-range prowess is coupled with his physical attributes that tune in well with the brand of football that is usually exhibited in the Premier League.
Where does Camara fit in at Arsenal?
It has been a while since Arsenal have had a reliable defensive midfielder in their ranks. Over the years, the likes of Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin among many others have all failed to provide the solidity in the middle third of the pitch. As a result, the club have often lacked security for the backline. That’s where Camara comes into the fray.
The Olympiacos star will offer Mikel Arteta with some much-needed depth in the midfield department that currently has four viable options in Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Dani Ceballos, the latter of whom is set to return to Real Madrid in the summer.
Camara can be an ideal partner to Xhaka in the double pivot of Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 setup. His proactive nature could combine well with the Swiss international’s ability to rotate possession. Their collective aggression could also make Arsenal much more effective in the second line of the press.
At the age of 23, Camara has time on his side as well, and for a fee of less than €25 million, he could be a smart long-term investment for the north London giants.
