Marseille president Pablo Longoria has indicated that Boubacar Kamara is set to leave on a free with Premier League giants Newcastle United and West Ham in talks, speaking to La Provence.
Now it may have taken longer than Kamara expected. But, with his contract expiring in July, it seems that the time has come for the 22-year-old to pack his bags at last.
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.
The Marseille-born youngster rose through the ranks at the Stade Velodrome, making over 150 appearances for the 1993 European Champions. And Longoria knows that losing a star player – one of Marseille’s own – on a free transfer no less, is not exactly a good look.
Which Premier League club will Boubacar Kamara join?
“I take on my responsibilities. I have been here (at L’OM) for a year and a half,” says Longoria, who worked as the sporting director of Valencia until 2018.
“To lose a player at the end of the contract, especially one of your best and one with one of the best (transfer) values in the squad, is always a failure.”
It is understood that Kamara wants £150,000-a-week at his next club.
As Juventus found out when signing Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal, so-called ‘free transfers’ are usually more expensive than you might imagine. After all, the money saved due to the lack of a transfer fee usually ends up going towards the player’s wages.
Villa decided against submitting a January bid, however. And it seems that Steven Gerrard has set his sights on a more proven Premier League operator.
A Wilfried Ndidi or an Yves Bissouma, for instance.
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