Liverpool plot €55m Lamine Camara move as Chelsea abandon pursuit
AnfieldLiverpool are reportedly plotting a €55m swoop for Monaco’s midfield star Lamine Camara, with Chelsea switching their attention to other targets.
The 22-year-old Senegal international has caught the eye with his impressive performances in Ligue 1 and during his recent World Cup campaign.
His form has sparked intense interest from the Premier League, where Anfield chiefs are eager to bolster their midfield options in the coming windows.
Anfield chiefs step up their interest
According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, writing on X, the Reds have kept a close eye on the midfielder for several months.
Speaking about Liverpool’s transfer strategy on social media, Konur said:
Liverpool are planning to strengthen their midfield in future windows, with Lamine Camara still among their targets.
The Monaco star was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge during the summer, but the proposed deal collapsed on Deadline Day.
Despite that disappointment, Liverpool’s interest has remained strong, with talkSPORT reporting that the club have already held preliminary discussions over a deal.
Konur added:
Despite his move to Stamford Bridge falling through, Liverpool’s interest in the Senegal midfielder remains.
Chelsea walk away from Monaco talks
While Liverpool look to press ahead with a move for the €55m-rated talent, Chelsea have reportedly decided to abandon their pursuit.
Reports suggest the Blues are unwilling to enter negotiations with Monaco again, prompting them to explore alternative options in the market.
This decision leaves the path clear for Andoni Iraola to strengthen his Liverpool squad following a somewhat unconvincing start to the season.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are still reeling from a difficult summer window where they lost Enzo Fernandez without securing a direct replacement in the middle of the pitch.
Alonso looks at alternative targets
Instead of pursuing Camara, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is believed to be monitoring Benfica’s rising star Gianluca Prestianni.
The 20-year-old Argentina international has been in sensational form, overcoming a six-game worldwide ban earlier this year to shine in Portugal.
Prestianni has already registered five goals and three assists in just seven Primeira Liga starts during the early stages of the campaign.
He also recently made a 56-minute appearance for Argentina against Bolivia, further raising his profile across Europe.
Defensive priorities at Stamford Bridge
Aston Villa are also tracking the youngster, who currently has an £86m release clause in his Benfica contract.
Benfica are reportedly keen to open talks with Prestianni over a new contract, despite his current deal containing that massive release clause.
It is thought highly improbable that any club would meet that buyout fee at this point in his development, despite his rapid rise.
While TEAMtalk claims Chelsea are closely monitoring Prestianni, a move to West London remains highly unlikely at this stage.
Alonso already has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, to the point where Estevao Willian is struggling to secure regular game time.
Instead, Chelsea’s primary focus is on signing defenders and controlling midfielders, having gone 21 league fixtures without keeping a single clean sheet.
That defensive frailty means Liverpool are currently uncontested in their pursuit of Camara, as Iraola looks to secure a major midfield signing.
