Liverpool open talks with Lamine Camara's camp as Chelsea cool on Alex Scott pursuit

Liverpool have opened talks with the representatives of Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, positioning themselves as potential suitors for the 22-year-old Senegal international ahead of the January transfer window.

Camara came within hours of joining Chelsea in the summer for a reported £47m fee, with a six-year contract understood to have been agreed before Monaco abruptly withdrew from the deal shortly before the deadline. Liverpool have since asked to be kept informed of any developments regarding his future, according to the Sun, with a January move not ruled out.

Chelsea’s interest in Camara has since cooled as the London club refocus their attention on Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, for whom they had a £64m bid rejected in the summer amid competition from several Premier League clubs. Scott has also been linked with Liverpool, where he would reunite with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

Camara, despite his near-departure, has impressed at Monaco this season. Manager Filipe Luis was effusive in his praise following a 1-0 win over Le Havre in August: “From everything that I saw, there is one thing that caught my eye. I have never seen that in 20 years; it’s Lamine Camara. He is a ‘different’ player from what I’ve seen so far. His ability to manage things on the pitch and his concentration. He has a level that is way, way above average.”

Luis expanded on that assessment to L’Equipe, adding: “In twenty years’ time, we may well see plenty of players like him. He can run a marathon, play for 90 minutes without ever letting up while playing football. He embodies the future of the game.”

Midfield has emerged as a clear priority for Liverpool this winter after the club invested heavily in attacking and defensive reinforcements over the summer. The situation surrounding Alexis Mac Allister adds further urgency to their planning. The 27-year-old Argentine is reportedly unhappy at not being offered a new contract, with his current deal running until 2028. A sale next summer would allow Liverpool to recoup a fee rather than risk losing him on a free transfer the following year, and that possibility is said to be influencing Iraola’s recruitment thinking.