Marseille president Pablo Longoria has not given up on keeping Boubacar Kamara despite interest from Premier League trio Leeds United, Newcastle and Aston Villa, speaking to RMC Sport.
In April 2021, the France U21 international admitted that he was ‘ready’ to leave his hometown club and embark on a new adventure elsewhere. That was eleven months ago.
And while Marseille supporters may be fretting about the potential departure of their prized asset, at least the Ligue 1 giants managed to eke one more season out of Kamara.
When his contract expires in July, the academy graduate may be bidding farewell to a club celebrating a return to the Champions League.
Jorge Sampaoli’s well-drilled Marseille are currently second in the table. Without him, they might be milling around with Lyon, Lille and Monaco in the depths of mid-table.
Is Boubacar Kamara leaving L’OM for the Premier League?
According to The Telegraph, Kamara has admirers at Leeds and Newcastle. Aston Villa and Manchester United have also held talks with the 22-year-old’s agent regarding a summer move across the Channel (The Mail).
So while Longoria is willing to accept defeat just yet, the phrase ‘wishful thinking’ comes to mind.
“I believe that, until the end, you have to have hope,” says Longoria.
“There is no conflict with Boubacar Kamara. His commitment is unquestioned.
“I do not hide the fact that a club who developed a player is not in a comfortable situation when they could lose him.”
A flock of freebies
Kamara, a cultured and versatile defensive midfielder who can also play at centre-half, is one of a number of high-profile players who could be available on free-transfers this summer.
“To tell the truth, the ending of a contract is a problem in today’s football,” Longoria adds. “We have to think about how the industry works. Money that could have been passed between clubs before, now it’s in the pockets of agents and families.
“There are advantages to being a free player.”
One of those advantages being that, come the summer, Kamara will have his pick of the clubs.
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