Preston North End are set to beat Standard Liege to the signing of RWD Molenbeek wing-back Ilay Camara.
That’s according to Belgian outlet HLN’s transfer live blog (July 27, 22:06) , who report that they have won the race to secure the ex-Anderlecht man.
That’s despite plenty of interest this summer in the dynamic wide player, with PNE joined by the likes Burnley and Coventry City in eyeing moves for the 21-year-old, per reports from The Lancashire Post and journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
The 2023/24 campaign was RWD Molenbeek’s first season back in the Belgian Pro League after winning promotion the previous season, and Camara impressed for the Brussels-based outfit, despite their eventual relegation this season.
He joined Molenbeek last summer after having previously featured for Anderlecht, and it’s reported that if the Championship trio were to move for Camara it would set them back around £1.5 million – £2 million.
However, there has also been interest from abroad, with French side Stade de Reims and Standard Liege also keen to sign the wing-back, but it had been reported that Molenbeek were blocking those advances.
The right-sided wideman made 31 appearances for the Belgian outfit last term, scoring three times and registering seven assists. It’s a strong return for a player in a relegated team, and his output highlights Camara’s attacking talents.
GOOOOOAAAAAAAL DE ILAY CAMARA 🇧🇪 ! 2-1 !!!!!
🖤🤍❤️ pic.twitter.com/LJEQBSKVJ7
— 𝐑𝐖𝐃𝐌 𝐅𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 🇾🇪 (@RWDM_Fidels) February 3, 2024
Ilay Camara’s 2023/24 season – per Transfermarkt | |||
---|---|---|---|
Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
Jupiler Pro League | 22 | 3 | 5 |
Relegation play-offs | 6 | 0 | 2 |
Croky Cup | 3 | 0 | 0 |
The latest regarding Preston North End’s pursuit of Ilay Camara
The 21-year-old impressed for Belgian Pro League outfit Molenbeek despite their relegation, and it has previously been reported that the ex-Anderlecht product is said to be open to a move to the Championship.
Camara is contracted to Molenbeek until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, but the club’s relegation could be a blessing for interested clubs like North End, as the player may have ambitions to play above the second tier of Belgian football, and selling him could raise important funds for the club.
It was previously understood that PNE were keen on striking a permanent deal for Camara, although a loan-to-buy option had also been suggested during initial talks between the Lilywhites and the Belgian side.
Standard Liege had been linked and have had their eye on a double swoop for Makhtar Gueye as well as Camara. However, the latest from HLN is that Preston have moved in for Camara, with their sources stating that they are prepared to come up with the required money, which means Standard will miss out on the right-sided wing-back.
Alfie Gilchrist looks set for a loan move this summer
Preston North End’s reported addition of Ilay Camara is much-needed at right wing-back
For a number of years now, Brad Potts has been PNE’s only out-and-out permanent right wing-back, ever since the exit of Darnell Fisher in January 2021 to Middlesbrough.
Sepp van den Berg filled in on loan from Liverpool after that, but when Ryan Lowe was appointed to replace Frankie McAvoy in December 2021, one of his first jobs was to convert Potts from a midfielder into a wing-back.
Lowe has been happy for Potts to keep that role, and when Calvin Ramsay went back to Liverpool last January following an indifferent half-season stint at Deepdale, no replacement was hunted, with budget constraints cited but also the fact that the likes of Alan Browne and Duane Holmes could fill in if necessary for the ‘robust’ ex-Blackpool man.
Of course, less than two weeks after the transfer window shut, Potts went down with a hamstring injury against Cardiff City, and he would play just once more before the end of the season after he went down in his return against Plymouth Argyle, and that evidently showed PNE’s boss that he needs depth in that position – something which Camara could bring, as well as more pace and trickery.