Liverpool plan to 'accelerate' Lamine Camara deal in January after 'major' twist

Liverpool are plotting a move to sign Monaco star Lamine Camara in January as they aim to resolve their midfield concerns.

Andoni Iraola's side have won one and drawn three of their Premier League games this season, with clear areas for improvement having already been identified.

The Reds were tipped to bring in a new midfielder in the summer window, but missed out, and the 22-year-old is now believed to be high on their list of mid-season targets.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Camara has been discussed behind-the-scenes at Anfield with a January move now on the cards.

Iraola is concerned about his midfield options, and believes the Senegal international would be the ideal addition to ease what could spiral into a "major issue" in the side.

Camara came close to joining Chelsea in a deadline-day deal worth around £47million, but Monaco pulled the plug, and he is now expected to be made available in January.

Could Liverpool make a move to sign Lamine Camara?

Football Insider revealed on 3 September that Liverpool held prelminary talks to sign Camara during the summer window and plan to reveisit their move in January.

The addition of a new midfielder has now risen to the top of Iraola's wish list, despite it still being early in the season, as his current options continue to struggle.

Liverpool's lack of control in midfield has been flagged as a major concern, and plans are now being drawn up to make a move for Camara when the January window opens.

"Liverpool need to sign a new midfielder, that has become clear," Brown told Football Insider.

"Their current options have not been good enough at the start of the season and it's beginning to become a major concern for them because they can't control games.

"They've got some good players in there, but I've said for a while, they're all a bit the same in terms of what they offer to the team and they need somebody new and fresh.

"Lamine Camara is a name that has been discussed behind the scenes, not just at Liverpool but at a lot of clubs, and he's being put into that top bracket of midfielders.

"Liverpool will be keeping an eye on how he gets on for Monaco, but there is definitely a deal to be done as we saw when he nearly joined Chelsea.

"If these midfield issues keep causing them problems, I have no doubt they will want to step up those plans, and I can certainly see a move happening when the January window opens."

Could Chelsea reignite their interest in Camara?

Liverpool are not the only club who could make a move for Camara in the January transfer window, with the Senegal international high on a number of clubs' lists.

Chelsea are being heavily tipped to return for the midfielder after missing out late on deadline day, with personal terms already having been agreed before the move collapsed.

However, Football Insider revealed on 14 September that Chelsea must first repair their relationship with Monaco before they can reignite their move for Camara.

The Blues were left raging after Monaco pulled the plug on their late move, with club chiefs branding them "unprofessional", and they may now be relucatant to do business.

That could boost Liverpool's chances of signing Camara in January, but rival clubs across Europe are also keeping an eye on his situation, and any deal will not be easy to do.