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Liverpool are now being linked with competing interest in two midfielders Chelsea attempted to sign during the summer transfer window.
Come January, or next summer, we could see the two Premier League clubs battle it out for Manu Koné, Lamine Camara, or potentially both.
Aware that Manchester City were preparing an irresistible offer for Enzo Fernández—the Argentine departed on Deadline Day for $169 million (£125 million), becoming the joint most expensive player in Premier League history—Chelsea moved quickly to find alternatives.
Koné was the top priority, but Roma reportedly blocked efforts to sign the France 2026 World Cup midfielder before any deal could materialize. He was also linked with Manchester United before the Red Devils completed a $95 million (£70 million) move for Carlos Baleba instead.
Chelsea's focus then shifted to Camara, who came close to joining Stamford Bridge for $63.7 million (£47 million) before Monaco pulled out at the last moment, around the same time Folarin Balogun's proposed Monaco departure was on-off-on, but ultimately fell through.
Chelsea had the option to halt the Fernández sale but chose not to. The Blues should manage being thin in midfield in the near term—Xabi Alonso has been filling positions with fullbacks and has had Moisés Caicedo available for just 14 minutes this season—but the anticipation of European competition returning in 2026–27 makes squad reinforcement a priority.
Chelsea's Midfielder Search Left Incomplete
Whether those efforts are revived for Koné or Camara, Liverpool now represent a genuine threat.
Transfer insider David Ornstein discussed Liverpool's "interest" in Camara on the latest edition of The Athletic FC Podcast. Several other unnamed clubs are also said to be monitoring the 22-year-old Senegal international.
It remains unclear whether the strained relationship between Chelsea and Monaco will allow the Blues to return for Camara. Reports following the deal's collapse made Chelsea's frustration with the Ligue 1 club's conduct in pulling out of the transfer abundantly clear.
Regarding Koné, who stepped in for Real Madrid's Aurélien Tchouaméni in France's World Cup starting lineup on multiple occasions, Ornstein noted that Liverpool "like him" as a potential future target. A key factor shaping his availability is Roma's "financial compliance," which may depend on their European participation. For now, the Giallorossi remain active in the Champions League.
Alexis Mac Allister Bombshell Explains Liverpool Interest
Speaking candidly to reporters at a Tuesday press conference, Alexis Mac Allister disclosed that he had rejected the chance to leave Liverpool during the transfer window and that the club has no immediate plans to offer him a contract extension.
Mac Allister has two years remaining on the long-term deal he signed when joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023, which is typically when key players receive renewals. Liverpool mishandled Trent Alexander-Arnold's extension at that stage but have already tied down Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai to new long-term deals.
A "sad" Mac Allister revealed his agent has been told by Liverpool officials that the club is "not in a position" to offer him new terms. Given his age—the 2022 World Cup winner turns 28 on Christmas Eve—there is limited financial motivation to hand him the same type of deal as Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, both of whom are younger and delivered stronger performances last season.
Liverpool could look to sell Mac Allister within the next 12 months to avoid him walking away as a free agent in 2028. Ironically, Chelsea could prove to be an ideal destination for him to fill the void left by international teammate Fernández.
There is also an expectation that Liverpool will part ways with Wataru Endō at the end of the campaign. The 33-year-old's contract expires next June, and he was left out of the club's Champions League squad for this season's league phase. It therefore seems likely that the Reds will pursue more than one midfield signing ahead of next season.