Liverpool Keep Lamine Camara on Midfield Radar After Chelsea Move Collapses

Liverpool plan midfield reinforcement in future windows and remain keen on Monaco's Lamine Camara, whose £47m summer move to Chelsea collapsed late in the window.

Liverpool intend to strengthen their midfield in upcoming transfer windows and continue to monitor Monaco's Lamine Camara, according to transfer reporter Ekrem Konur. The report claims the Anfield club's interest in the Senegal international has not dimmed even though his switch to Stamford Bridge fell apart, and that a deal is now being eyed.

Camara, 22, is a Senegal international who joined Monaco from Metz in 2024. According to Konur's report, the midfielder was valued at around €55 million last summer, and he is now rated at £47 million.

The reported interest follows a summer in which Liverpool allowed a string of midfielders to leave. Curtis Jones was the biggest name to go, with Inter Milan — the Italian champions — finally landing him after a long chase. Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic also moved on, while Luca Stephenson headed to Bolton Wanderers.

Despite those departures, Liverpool — the 2024/25 Premier League champions — decided against signing a midfielder of their own during the window. The exits left Basque manager Andoni Iraola short of options in central areas, and he has continued to work with largely the same group of midfielders as before. According to Konur, that could soon change.

The 22-year-old has grown into a central role at Monaco since that move from Metz. He can operate as a No.6 or a No.8, pressing opponents, winning possession back and pushing his team up the pitch with precise passing, switches of play and well-timed runs on the ball. Set pieces are another avenue through which he creates.

His form this season has drawn attention. Camara has started each of Monaco's five Ligue 1 matches so far, totaling 450 league minutes, and has recorded one assist as the team made a positive start to the campaign. That run has reinforced his reputation as one of the standout talents in Ligue 1.

Camara came close to leaving the club during the last window, according to the report. A £47 million transfer to Xabi Alonso's Chelsea was reportedly all but complete before collapsing at the final stages. The late failure pointed both to the breadth of interest in the midfielder and to the price Monaco place on him.

Monaco hold a strong hand in any negotiation over the 22-year-old. Camara is under contract until June 2029, a deal that leaves the Ligue 1 club with no immediate need to sell and in a position to dictate the terms of any departure.

Liverpool's own midfield picture could bring the matter to a head in the coming months. Alexis Mac Allister's future has been called into question, while Ryan Gravenberch has struggled to reproduce his best form, and refreshing the unit with a player of Camara's profile may now move up the agenda at Anfield.