As time ticks away towards the transfer window slamming shut at 11pm (BST) on Tuesday, Liverpool's squad looks massively short of what they will need to challenge for the Premier League title again. The arrival of Bradley Barcola massively improves Andoni Iraola's attacking options, but supporters remain concerned about other key areas of the team.
On of these is defensive midfield. In the summer of 2023, following the departures of both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, a report by the Athletic outlined how the Reds were prioritising recruiting a new number six. That year's signings Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch were deemed imperfect for that role, while Wataru Endō remains not of the requisite quality.
Thus, the following summer, the Reds activated Martín Zubimendi's release clause, only for him to choose to stay at Real Sociedad. Thus, this is the fourth successive summer window in which Liverpool have recognised the need for a new defensive midfielder, but failed to address this issue.
To make matters worse, one of the Reds' targets for that position is now potentially set for a deadline day move to a Premier League rival. As reported by journalist Nicolò Schira, Lamine Camara "has agreed personal terms" to join Chelsea, ahead of a proposed six-year deal.
However, that is not to say that the deal is going to be finalised. Simon Johnson and David Ornstein of the Athletic are reporting that the Blues have seen a €45 million offer (around £38.5 million), rejected by Monaco for Camara. They add that talks between the clubs will "continue" ahead of the deadline.
As mad as this is to say, considering how many players they have signed under Clearlake Capital, but Chelsea are a little short of midfield options right. This is assuming that Enzo Fernández gets his way and forces through a deadline day move to Manchester City for an astronomical fee of £120 million.
Xabi Alonso started Malo Gusto and Roméo Lavia as his makeshift midfield pairing against Brighton Sunday, while Moisés Caicedo, Reece James, Valentín Barco and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson are his other options for this position. Nevertheless, if Camara does end up swapping Monte Carlo for the King's Road, have Liverpool missed out?
Should Liverpool have attempted to sign Lamine Camara?
After starting out at Génération Foot, a famous footballing academy in Senegal, Camara first moved to France to join Metz, appearing 37 times for les Grenats, before being signed by AS Monaco for €15 million in the summer of 2024, after his old club were relegated.
Since then, he has made 75 appearances for les Monégasques, including featuring 15 times in the Champions League, a key figure irrespective of who has been in charge. In August, Camara scored his sixth goal for the club as Filipe Luís' side hammered Górnik Zabrze 7-3 in the Conference League play-off round. The 22 year old was on target during the 3-2 victory at Stadion im. Ernesta Pohla w Zabrzu in Poland.
In Ligue 1 last season, despite only playing 60% of Monaco's minutes, Camara ranked tenth for tackles and interceptions as well as 14th for ground duels won and 24th for completed passes, all among midfielders across the division. This is to say that, still only 22 years old as mentioned, he has the potential to become the complete package.
So, will Camara join Chelsea, and would he fix Liverpool's midfield? Well, the answers to those two questions are it remains to be seen, and we may never know. Nevertheless, it feels like negligence to once again ask Gravenberch to be the lone six, with youngster Trey Nyoni his only serious back-up. Both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have exposed enormous gaps in Liverpool's midfield, and this could continue to be something of a theme of this season.
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