Boubacar Kamara has made a big impact on Unai Emery at Aston Villa and some at the Premier League giants believe the France international may be their ‘best’ signing in years, according to The Athletic.
And that is saying something.
Aston Villa’s track record with regards to recruitment is not exactly perfect. But, when you consider that Ollie Watkins, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Matty Cash and more have been snapped up in recent times, it should not be underestimated just how impressive it would be for Kamara to find himself at the top of that particular tree.
Villa pulled off an almighty coup when they snapped up Kamara on a free last summer; the former Marseille star choosing the Midlands outfit over Champions League regulars Atletico Madrid.
Villa fought off Atletico Madrid to sign Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara
“This kid is a phenomenon,” former Marseille team-mate Rolando once told RMC Sport of the 23-year-old. “He is full of qualities and, above all, he works, he listens. He is extraordinary.”
Those ‘qualifies’ have been in full view at Villa Park. Not only is Kamara already one of the Premier League’s most effective ball-winners, he is also an expert distributor and absolutely integral to Emery’s possession-heavy style.
Hence the concern over his latest injury; one that could keep Kamara out until the final weeks of the season or even longer.
Former Arsenal, PSG and Sevilla coach Emery, per The Athletic, ‘rates Kamara more highly’ now than he did when replacing Steven Gerrard in the autumn. Some behind the scenes at Bodymoor Heath also believe the one-time Manchester United and Liverpool target ‘could be the biggest and best’ signing Aston Villa have made in recent times.
“He has big potential,” Emery tells Sky Sports.
“Very big potential. He is playing well and is so focused on improving his game, improving his capacity with and without the ball. He has been developing, in France and here. Now it is my responsibility to develop him even more than he has done so far.”
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