REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool can give Andoni Iraola exactly what he needs to transform his midfield into a pressing machine. The Reds have had a mixed season so far, currently sat in fourth place but nine points behind leaders Arsenal and looking likely to mount a title push this season.
That isn't totally surprising given Liverpool changed managers over the summer, while there have been some injury issues, particularly at right-back. Liverpool also have some issues in the midfield having failed to strengthen there in the summer despite many feeling as though it was an important box to tick.
Iraola has built a career on having teams who are willing and able to press, always finding ways to choke the opposition into giving the ball up. The Spaniard has previously spoken about his approach with Sky Sports, explaining: "The better the opposition, the more risk you have to take if you want to press them. You know, sometimes people say, 'They are very good, so we have to wait a little bit longer to press.' But that way you have zero chance to recover that ball."
He added in a separate interview: "I think you have to take even more risk if the opponent are better on the ball. This is something that we cannot lose. It's kind of our identity. We try to make things happen."
Liverpool have had some joy with young talent Trey Nyoni, while Ryan Gravenberch is usually defensively sound, but they are not getting enough from Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian is a set-piece wizard, but he does not press consistently, and he is not providing the passes between the lines that Iraola demands in his system.
"It's not about just recovering the ball high, it's about using these, what I would call, 'high-quality balls' to make the difference."
Having a player who can do both the pressing and the high-quality balls is not an easy thing to find. But Liverpool are said to be interested in a player who can offer a combination of those.
Camara could be on his way to Anfield
Lamine Camara celebrating for Monaco
According to Lewis Steele, Liverpool are interested in a move for Monaco's Lamine Camara, and there are even some suggestions that they have already agreed a deal with the player. Camara is only 22 years of age, but he has already established himself as a regular for club and country, with the country being Senegal.
Camara is a real workhorse in the midfield, able to press like no tomorrow. He is a ball-winning machine, and his abilities in defensive midfield have clubs around Europe talking.
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But winning back the ball is not Camara's only strength, he also has a very fine passing ability and is able to pass through the lines and switch possession comfortably. Now, he is not an attacking midfielder, so while he will provide some quality through balls, it is passes from deeper on the pitch that he thrives with, but the Reds already have a player for those sorts of passes in Alexis Mac Allister.
"My game is about pressing; sometimes I'm on the limit, and at points in games, I don't manage to control my efforts. It is a bit of a fault of mine. Sometimes I need to manage my efforts. But to do things well, to want to help my teammates, I need to surpass some of my limits." - Lamine Camara
Iraola needs tough, energetic pressing and progressive passing between the midfield anchor and the attacking midfielder and wingers, and those are undoubtedly Camara's strengths. Pair all that with the fact Liverpool are building a young core and have the chance to sign a 22-year-old who fits into their system and has the potential to be a star, and it's a deal that is easy to endorse.
Monaco manager Filipe Luis is certainly a huge fan of his player, saying earlier this season:
You see the player that he is – unbelievable. Until the end of the transfer window, anything can happen. Everyone hopes that he stays. He is elite.
Monaco are said to want around £58.4million for Camara, which could turn out to be a steal when you see the prices players like Elliot Anderson have gone for in recent times.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during training
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during training