Last summer, Liverpool went all out to acquire Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
An inter-club agreement was reached and a move to Anfield seemed imminent, but he decided to stay in Spain and the move never materialised.
Nevertheless, Liverpool are still believed to be looking to secure a defensive midfielder, with the names of various targets being discussed in the media throughout the season. And a new player has been added to that list.
According to TBR, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, including Liverpool, have shown interest in 21-year-old midfielder Lamine Camara, who is currently at Monaco in Ligue 1, and are watching his development.
The young midfielder joined Monaco from Metz in the summer of 2024 and quickly adapted to his new team.
Although he is not a big man, he has shown his strength in attack, using his long limbs to stave off opposition attacks. He has played 20 games in the domestic league this season, scoring two goals and assisting six, and has continued to play a central role.
His athleticism, running all over the pitch and hunting for the ball at the right moment, has been likened to French midfielder Ngolo Kante. Despite being 21 years old, he has made 23 appearances for Senegal and has the potential to rival former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
It remains to be seen whether he will be a direct rival for the position, as he has a different style of play to Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch. His dribbling and passing in the closing areas is not as good as top level, and it is not clear whether he is coach Arne Slot’s preferred player or not.
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder has more of an impression that his strengths lie in his reading and accurate crossing, but will he make his mark at Anfield next season as a Liverpool player after a fierce battle for the job?