Liverpool Eye January Move for Lamine Camara
Liverpool are weighing up a January move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, with a deal described as a “real possibility” as the club plot their next major midfield investment.
The 22-year-old was on the brink of joining Chelsea on deadline day, only for Monaco to pull the plug in the final hours of the window. Camara had held lengthy discussions with the London club about his role and had given the green light to a move to Stamford Bridge before the French side’s late U-turn.
That collapse has not cooled interest. Chelsea remain in the frame, but they are no longer alone.
Liverpool circle as Camara price climbs
Liverpool, who rebuilt their midfield in the summer, are now firmly in the conversation for Camara and are believed to have already opened dialogue over a potential transfer.
According to Football Insider, the Anfield hierarchy have “held talks” about a January move, with former scout Mick Brown confirming that Camara is on the agenda.
“Lamine Camara is a name that has been discussed behind the scenes,” Brown told Football Insider. He added that Liverpool will be closely tracking his performances for Monaco, confident that “there is definitely a deal to be done” given how close he came to joining Chelsea.
The numbers, though, have shifted. Any club hoping to prise him away in January is now expected to pay closer to €70m (£60m, $81m), a significant jump from the €55m (£47m, $63m) package Chelsea had lined up in the summer.
One factor could work in Liverpool’s favour. Camara’s agent has been vocal about securing his client a move, and Brown expects conversations over a January switch to continue: “His agent has been very outspoken about trying to get him a move, so I expect Liverpool will have held talks with him about the possibility of signing him in January.”
If Liverpool decide to push, they will likely be staring at a bidding war with Chelsea for a second time. This time, Monaco hold an even stronger hand.
Left-back question draws Mitchell into the frame
Midfield is not the only area under review. Liverpool are also assessing options at left-back, with Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell emerging as a serious name on their radar.
Mitchell has already been linked with Manchester United, and Brown believes Liverpool could join the chase as they look to strengthen a position that has raised quiet concerns.
Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas are the current main options. Kerkez has struggled to produce consistently, while Tsimikas is heading into the final months of his contract and remains on the fringes of the squad, leaving his long-term future uncertain.
That uncertainty opens the door to a move for Mitchell, whose reliability at Palace has not gone unnoticed.
“Man United aren’t going to be the only club interested in signing Mitchell,” Brown said. “For any club looking for a left-back in the Premier League, there are not many options who come up with such consistent performances as Mitchell has for Crystal Palace.
“He impresses every single week, gets on with his job, he’s terrific defensively and he’s improved the attacking side of his game as well, he’s a top, top player.”
That profile fits neatly with what Liverpool tend to look for: durability, defensive discipline, and room to grow in the final third.
Brown namechecked both Liverpool and Chelsea as clubs who could be tempted, pointing to questions over Kerkez’s form and the London side’s habit of moving quickly for high-quality, homegrown talent when the price is right.
“Either of those clubs could make a move for Mitchell,” he said. “He will tick a number of boxes for them and could be a very good addition.”
Two windows, two positions, two very different targets. If Liverpool choose to act on both Camara and Mitchell, January could reshape not just their midfield and left flank, but the balance of power in the market between the Premier League’s elite.
