Premier League trio West Ham United, Newcastle and Aston Villa have been handed a transfer boost with Atletico Madrid distancing themselves from Boubacar Kamara, as reported by EFE.
Much to the chagrin of Marseille president Pablo Longoria, a homegrown hero who rose through the ranks to become an integral part of the L’OM team is set to leave the Stade Velodrome on a free transfer when his contract expires in July.
Versatile, hard-working, technically-gifted and still just 22 years of age, Kamara certainly won’t be short of offers come the summer.
According to the Northern Echo, no fewer than four Premier League clubs are in talks. Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace and a Manchester United side crying out for a disciplined, dynamic defensive midfielder of Kamara’s ilk.
Aston Villa are interested too. It is no secret that Steven Gerrard wants a new number six and Kamara certainly fits the bill. The France U21 international would come a lot cheaper, too, than the likes of Yves Bissouma, Kalvin Phillips and Wilfred Ndidi.
Is Boubacar Kamara heading to the Premier League?
But with Atletico Madrid reportedly keen, Villa, West Ham, Palace and co may fear they’ve been wasting their time.
Atletico are regulars in the Champions League after all, winners of the Spanish top flight as recently as 2021.
When asked about Kamara, however, Los Colchoneros president Enrique Cerezo was hardly glowing in his praise of the Marseille talisman.
“I don’t even know who Kamara is right now,” Cerezo admits.
Leeds United have been eyeing up Kamara too
And, even if Kalvin Phillips rebuffs Aston Villa’s advances in favour of a new contract at his boyhood club, a new defensive midfielder would be welcome with open arms at Elland Road.
Leeds’ reliance on Phillips is perhaps to be expected, given the England international’s ability and skillset. But when injuries restrict Phillips to just 12 league games in a single campaign, that reliance becomes a problem.
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