Liverpool could pursue a £58m deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and a loan move for Chelsea defender Malo Gusto during the January transfer window, according to reports.
Andoni Iraola's side sit fourth in the Premier League with 18 points after their opening 10 fixtures, having lost just three of their 16 matches in all competitions. They trail Manchester City by three points, are four behind Brighton in second, and remain nine adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Midfield reinforcement needed
Trey Nyoni has impressed when given the chance this season, but the teenager cannot yet be relied upon to guarantee trophies. As a result, Liverpool are said to need a more disruptive, defensively-minded midfielder capable of operating in Iraola's pivot.
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are currently rotated amongst themselves. When Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are paired together, the midfield is deficient in ball recovery and middle-third tackling during open encounters. Gravenberch, while an exceptional talent, has not yet fully mastered the discipline of aggressive ball-winning.
Camara excels in those areas, ranking amongst Europe's elite for ball recoveries, interceptions and middle-third tackling. Chelsea were poised to sign him in the summer for £47m before Monaco abandoned the deal, and his performances have only improved since. Reports indicate around £58m would be sufficient to complete his signing, and Liverpool could attempt to raise the funds and scupper the move should Chelsea decide to return to the table.
Defensive options explored
The left-back role remains a worry at Liverpool. The club would benefit from a versatile, energetic full-back capable of operating in both positions and available on a risk-free loan arrangement. Malo Gusto could be that individual.
The Frenchman's involvement has plummeted under Xabi Alonso, and he has featured for less than 500 minutes so far this campaign. It has been suggested that Gusto is looking for a departure and is priced at £67m.
He represents an ideal match for Iraola's philosophy, with outstanding recovery pace, an ability to invert and an attack-minded approach. However, that price tag would constitute quite the punt, and Liverpool have previously invested heavily in that position. Should Gusto fail to deliver, that could prove problematic.
If the Reds could persuade Chelsea to release him on loan with an option to buy, as they sought to arrange on deadline day, it would represent a favourable outcome for both clubs.
