Liverpool Target Lamine Camara and Tyrick Mitchell for January

Liverpool are weighing up a January move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, with a deal described as a “real possibility” – but it will not come cheap, and it is not their only potential raid on the market.

Camara back on Premier League radar

Camara was inches away from joining Chelsea on deadline day. The 22-year-old held lengthy talks with the London club about his role and future, and had effectively given the go-ahead to swap Monaco for Stamford Bridge before the French side abruptly pulled the plug in the final hours of the window.

Chelsea’s interest has not gone away. They are expected to return in January. This time, though, Liverpool are on the scene.

Any club stepping up now faces a far steeper price. The package Chelsea had lined up sat around €55m (£47m, $63m). After his aborted move and continued development, Monaco are now thought to want closer to €70m (£60m, $81m).

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have already “held talks” over a possible transfer.

“Lamine Camara is a name that has been discussed behind the scenes,” Mick Brown told the outlet. “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.

“His agent has been very outspoken about trying to get him a move, so I expect Liverpool will have held talks with him about the possibility of signing him in January.”

If that agent keeps pushing and Monaco stay open to business, the battle for Camara could quickly turn into a straight shoot-out between Anfield and Stamford Bridge once the window reopens.

Liverpool eye Mitchell as left-back market tightens

Midfield is not the only area under review. Liverpool are also being tipped as contenders for one of the Premier League’s most reliable left-backs.

Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell has long been on Manchester United’s radar. Now his name is being mentioned in connection with Liverpool as well, with Brown again outlining the scale of interest.

“Man United aren’t going to be the only club interested in signing Mitchell,” he said. “For any club looking for a left-back in the Premier League, there are not many options who come up with such consistent performances as Mitchell has for Crystal Palace.

“He impresses every single week, gets on with his job, he’s terrific defensively and he’s improved the attacking side of his game as well, he’s a top, top player.”

That profile fits a growing need. Milos Kerkez has faced questions over his form, while Kostas Tsimikas is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to nail down a regular starting role. It leaves Liverpool’s left side looking vulnerable in the medium term.

Brown believes that makes Mitchell an obvious target for the elite.

“So when you look at those top clubs, you’ve got Liverpool where Milos Kerkez has been questioned a bit and maybe isn’t as consistent as they’d like him to be,” he said.

“Then you’ve got Chelsea, who are always going to be interested in this type of deal where they can bring a quality player in without having to spend big.

“Either of those clubs could make a move for Mitchell, because as I say, he will tick a number of boxes for them and could be a very good addition.”

Two positions, two high-profile names, and serious competition from domestic rivals. Liverpool’s January window is already shaping into a test of how hard they are prepared to push to stay ahead in a market where every hesitation is punished.