Liverpool's friendly against Monaco could provide the perfect scouting opportunity for Reds boss Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola of Liverpool gives a thumb up during the pre-season friendly match against Sunderland
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola will oversee his first game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon(Image: Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola will have the perfect opportunity to scout rumored transfer target Lamine Camara when the Reds take on Monaco in a friendly on Sunday afternoon.
It's been a productive preseason so far, with wins against Sunderland and Wrexham on the U.S. tour, although it ended with a disappointing 4-2 loss at the hands of Leeds United. This weekend's clash at Anfield will be the first time Iraola has taken charge of a Liverpool game on home soil.
From a recruitment standpoint, there have been very few additions to the head coach's squad so far. Victor Munoz was signed earlier in the summer after his release clause at Osasuna was triggered.
Jeremy Jacquet arrived after a deal for the defender was agreed in January, although the Frenchman is yet to feature in preseason due to injury. Liverpool is now also closing in on the loan signing of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, but there is still work to be done before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
One player who has been linked with a switch to Merseyside is Monaco midfielder Camara. A recent report from French outlet Foot Mercato claimed the 22-year-old is attracting plenty of interest from Premier League clubs, including Liverpool.
Along with the Reds, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United are also rumored to be in the running for Camara. A reported fee of £43 million ($58 million) has been set by the Ligue 1 outfit, and it remains to be seen whether the player's suitors are prepared to pay that figure, especially as Monaco has already sold promising winger Maghnes Akliouche to PSG in recent days.
Camara, a Senegal international, joined Monaco from Metz in the summer of 2024. In his first year with the club, he scored two goals and registered seven assists in 29 Ligue 1 appearances.
Lamine Camara of AS Monaco reacts during a Champions League match
Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has plenty of rumored suitors in the Premier League, including Liverpool(Image: Photo by Neal Simpson/Allstar/Getty Images)
Last season, he scored three goals and registered four assists in 24 league appearances. At the World Cup this summer, he represented Senegal in all three of its group games and came off the bench in the team's last-gasp Round of 32 defeat against Belgium.
Since returning to his club for preseason, Camara has been included in Monaco's squad for its training camp in England. Should he feature against Liverpool at Anfield, it could be the perfect opportunity for Iraola to get a closer look at the midfielder as the Reds' hierarchy continues to assess the transfer market.
Liverpool has question marks over its own midfield options, most notably Curtis Jones, who continues to be linked with a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan. The academy graduate is yet to agree new terms with the club and is set to be out of contract at the end of next season.
After the game against Monaco, Liverpool will conclude its preseason schedule with a match against Como at Anfield. The Reds will then begin their Premier League campaign with an away clash against Newcastle on August 23 as the Iraola era gets up and running.