
Liverpool must react quickly to sign a contract with an outstanding midfielder – Opinion
Anfield Index
Fri, June 12, 2026 at 7:55 PM UTC·4 min read
## Liverpool need to strengthen their midfield this transfer window
One of the biggest lessons we learned from Liverpool's disappointing season is that their midfielders lacked the physicality, aggression and intensity needed to dominate in the Premier League.
Too often the midfield was overcrowded. Too often Liverpool looked like a second-team team in fast-paced plays. Too often, opponents found their way into the center of the team with alarming ease.
Despite all the discussions about tactics, training methods and offensive play, the reality is that no coach can achieve success if the team's foundations are weak. Where power and control were once at the forefront of Klopp's best teams, in Slot's current world we are dealing with a weakened and vulnerable group that needs reinforcements and potential replacements.
That's why the arrival of Andoni Iraoli is so important in the context of rebuilding Liverpool's midfield. The club's hierarchy certainly knows that the recruitment team will have to work hard to find solutions that will fit into the new, exciting model.
Iraola's football is based on constant pressing, quick transitions from defense to attack and constant physical involvement. Bournemouth became one of the most energetic teams in the Premier League because each player understood their role and had the physical ability to execute it.
Liverpool simply weren't able to do this consistently last season.
Ryan Gravenberch was too often forced to play in a deeper position than his natural style would allow. Alexis Mac Allister has been alone too often, and his physicality seems weakened lately. Dominik Szoboszlai carried too much responsibility on his shoulders in both phases of the game, but despite the fact that he ran a lot, he was unable to effectively take the ball away from his opponents.
Liverpool's midfielders were not a cohesive team.
Worse still, they were missing a claw.
This issue must be resolved as soon as possible if Liverpool want to challenge for the top spots in the table again.
The problem that Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards face is that the Premier League transfer market has become very inflated recently.
Each potential transfer target is assigned an exorbitant fee. Elliot Anderson is said to be worth around £130 million. Mateus Fernández would cost £85 million. Even Alex Scott from Bournemouth would cost around £80 million.
All three are talented players, but these amounts show how difficult it is to acquire players from English clubs without paying astronomical sums.
Liverpool have historically achieved their best transfer results by looking for talent outside England.
## Lamine Camara is a smarter choice
One player Liverpool should be keeping an eye on is Lamine Camara.
The Senegal international has many qualities that Liverpool's midfielders lack.
Energy.
Aggression.
The ability to receive the ball.
Physical abilities.
Most importantly, his playing style fits in withwhat Iraola would like to see on the pitch.
Camara constantly moves around the pitch and plays his defensive game with an intensity that is striking. He feels comfortable interrupting opponents' actions, aggressively pressing and quickly moving the ball to the attack after regaining it.
These qualities are highly sought after at Liverpool. Last season, the team looked passive too often.
It happened that matches got out of their hands because there were no players in the middle of the pitch who could impose their physicality on the opponents.
Camara could change that.
What makes this midfielder an even more attractive transfer target is his potential value.
While Premier League clubs value domestic players at astronomical sums, Liverpool could sign Camara for a fraction of that amount. This would allow for the allocation of funds to other players and would significantly improve the quality of the midfield.
Time may also be an important factor.
Upcoming international tournaments could significantly increase Camara's value. If he performs well on the international arena, he will certainly attract the attention of leading European clubs.
Liverpool therefore face a simple choice.
Decide to transfer now or risk paying a much larger amount later.
For the club, which is entering a new era under Iraola's leadership, wise transfer decisions will be crucial.
The new manager will be able to improve the team structure, raise standards and introduce a more aggressive style of play, but he will need the right tools to do so.
Liverpool's midfield needs strengthening.
We need a player who will restore intensity, physical ability and defensive dominance in the central zone of the pitch.
Lamine Camara looks like the perfect candidate that Liverpool should sign before other European clubs realize what a talent he is.
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