Luis Campos to Arsenal? PSG transfer guru's five best signings

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 17 Nov 2024 14:25 GMT
4 min read

Luis Campos is one of the most reputable sporting directors in the world - and now he's being linked to the vacant Arsenal position.

It was announced last week that Edu, the Premier League's current transfer chief, would depart to become a general overseer of Evangelos Marinakis' network of clubs such as Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.

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Edu will serve a six-month period of gardening leave as Arsenal search for a successor.

FootballTransfers has learned that Campos is now a name that the Gunners admirer.

Here we take a look at five of the best signings that the Portuguese executive has made during his time at PSG, Monaco, Lille.

Victor Osimhen to Lille

Luis Campos had closely monitored Victor Osimhen's development for years before securing the striker's arrival at Lille from VfL Wolfsburg in 2019. The long-term interest paid off handsomely, as the Nigerian forward delivered an impressive debut season in France, netting 18 goals across 38 matches in all competitions during the 2019-20 campaign.

He made a €70m move to Napoli, where he has since become one of the best No.9s playing today. This season he is out on loan in Turkey, playing for Galatasaray.

“Luis Campos has always played an important role in my life: he watched me during the U17s World Cup in Chile and since then we have never been out of contact,” Osimhen told RMC in 2020.

“We have a very good relationship and I am very happy, he has helped me and motivated me to become the player that I am today.

Rafa Leao to Lille

In what is considered one of Campos' most remarkable deals, Rafael Leao signed on a free at Lille before being sold to AC Milan for €29.5m.

The attacker had played just three games for Sporting CP before joining the French outfit.

Bernardo Silva to Monaco

Bernardo Silva’s journey to stardom began with a loan move from Benfica to Monaco in 2014. Impressed by stint, Campos made the deal permanent just six months later.

Silva quickly became a pivotal figure for Monaco, playing a starring role in their remarkable 2016-17 season where they won the Ligue 1 title and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

In the summer of 2017, Manchester City secured his services for €53m. Since then, Silva has flourished under Pep Guardiola, becoming one of the best in his position today.

Tiemoue Bakayoko to Monaco

Tiemoue Bakayoko joined Monaco from Rennes for €8m in 2014. The midfielder was another key member who helped the club win the league and end Paris Saint-Germain's dominance.

Bakayoko's commanding performances caught the attention of Chelsea. The club secured his signature in the summer of 2017 for a hefty €46m fee. However, despite his early promise, Bakayoko struggled to find his footing at Stamford Bridge and has eventually moved on.

Thomas Lemar to Monaco

Current ETV

Thomas Lemar

AM (C), M (CL)

Atlético

Thomas Lemar

AM (C), M (CL)

Atlético

ETV Range

€7.2M - €12M

In 2015, Campos signed Thomas Lemar from Caen for a modest €4m. That deal would go on to prove to be an incredible bargain. The Frenchman spent three years at Monaco. His Ligue 1 win and displays in Europe drew massive attention.

Lemar was linked to Manchester United, and Arsenal, among others. But he chose Spain In 2018, the French international completed a high-profile move to Atletico Madrid for a substantial €60m. He has had a mixed time with the club, but no one can deny the business acumen of Campos in the buying and of selling the attacker in France.