Lamine Camara has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool. The Reds reportedly, per Ben Jacobs, contacted both the player and AS Monaco at the end of the transfer window to assure them of interest in 2027.
And potentially for the full €70m asking price. That's a show of faith in Camara, who we also believe is a must-sign player who could transform Liverpool's midfield.
But the Reds won't be the only ones. Other clubs will naturally get involved here and put up a fight for Camara, while there's also the outside chance of his form falling off a cliff between now and January.
Alternatives are needed, then. Liverpool can't go into the window with just the one midfielder in mind - they need to build a shortlist.
One player who might end up usurping Camara on that list is in Italy right now.
Liverpool like Manu Koné
is the latest to suggest that Liverpool have their eyes on AS Roma's Manu Koné. He believes the Reds like him as a 'potential option' heading into 2027.Koné has been linked with a host of clubs and Liverpool have been among them for some time now. He certainly feels like one of the most likely candidates for a big-money move in 2027, even if Roma were reluctant to sell in the summer.
That's an advantage that Camara certainly has over Koné as an option: his club are willing to do business. Roma would need convincing and that almost certainly means paying over the odds.
Still, it could simply come down to profile. Interestingly, Koné's attacking profile is most-similar to Ryan Gravenberch of all players across the top five leagues from any of the three previous seasons.
© Anfield Watch
Are Liverpool after another Gravenberch, then? Someone who offers that kind of attacking return but with something different in defence and possession?
Camara isn't that, and is more defensively-focused than both. It'll be interesting to see what direction Liverpool go down, then, as they've got a choice here.
We're still holding out for a defensive player - whereas Kone is a little bit more-of-the-same.
