Boubacar Kamara is reportedly in advanced talks with Manchester United, leaving Barcelona with an uphill task in his pursuit.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Boubacar Kamara is inching closer to joining Manchester United, with the two parties in advanced talks over a transfer. The situation leaves Barcelona in the lurch in the race to sign the Marseille utility man.
Boubacar has been with Marseille all his life, having joined the club as a five-year-old in 2005. After rapidly progressing through the ranks at the Ligue 1 club, the Frenchman made his first-team debut in December 2016, aged just 17. And in the last five years, he has not looked back, becoming a key figure for Les Phoceens.
To date, the 22-year-old has turned out 141 times for Marseille, chipping in with four goals and five assists along the way. However, 2021/22 is likely to be Kamara’s final season with the French giants, and he is set to enter the last six months of his contract at the turn of the year. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona and Manchester United.
The interest from Barcelona is understandable, considering their need to bolster their midfield and defensive units. At the heart of the Barcelona defence, there is a severe shortage of quality, especially with Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti being bit-part players and Eric Garcia failing to impress since his arrival in the summer.
Ronald Araujo has been the only positive for Barcelona at the back this season. However, the Uruguayan defender has been heavily linked with Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. As for the midfield unit, with Sergio Busquets in the twilight of his career, Kamara could be a long-term successor.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s pursuit of Kamara could be stemming from their lack of a reliable holding midfielder. With Nemanja Matic in the final phase of his career, the Red Devils need a new defensive midfielder on board at Old Trafford, as neither Scott McTominay nor Fred is adept at essaying the role.
According to El Nacional, Kamara is closer to joining Manchester United than Barcelona, as he is in advanced talks with the English club. The report further adds that the Red Devils could make his signing official in January, leaving Barcelona by the wayside.
With Manchester United edging towards securing the services of the 22-year-old, it remains to be seen if Barcelona can do something to steal a march on the Premier League heavyweights. As things stand, Kamara appears likely to move to Old Trafford instead of Camp Nou.
