High-flying West Ham United have thrown their name in the hat for the signing of Marseille star Boubacar Kamara.
According to The Sun, English Premier League side, West Ham United have joined the race to land Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks at the Stade Velodrome and has developed into a pivotal part of the setup for Les Olympiens, making 144 appearances to date.
Kamara is a defensive midfielder who can also double up as a centre-back. This versatility will hold him in good stead as he continues to make a name for himself in the game. The youngster was also entrusted with Marseille’s captaincy earlier this season, hinting at his competency as a leader.
The French youth star’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and he can potentially move for free in the summer. Given his experience and potential, Kamara represents a steal, especially if he can be signed for free.
Kamara is not just a good tackler adept at winning back the ball, but his excellent passing ability helps him kick start attacks and pave the way for those ahead of him to attack the goal. Add to it his aerial prowess, and the 22-year-old has the tools to become a dominant presence in midfield.
The Ligue 1 star is free to sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs, and West Ham could take advantage of the situation. Club icon Mark Noble will be retiring at the end of the season and will need to be replaced. Moyes is on the lookout for a long term replacement for the club captain.
West Ham already have two excellent midfielders in Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. The duo forms an extremely effective double pivot, and the addition of Kamara will hand the manager greater depth in the middle of the park.
Securing Kamara will boost the Hammers midfield and give them a readymade replacement should Rice leave the club in the future. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have been linked with the English international, and it remains to be seen if he will seek a fresh challenge in the future. Kamara is not yet as refined as Rice but has a similar skillset and can fulfil similar roles in the squad.
West Ham have no intention of selling Rice as things stand. But, landing Kamara for free could add depth in the position and can hand Moyes more finances to invest elsewhere. However, they will not have it easy as several clubs are keen on the player, including Newcastle United.
The Magpies are looking at the Frenchman as they look to add a more reliable defensive midfielder to the ranks to partner Jonjo Shelvey. However, they could be severely handicapped if they failed to stave off relegation this season, although there have been reports that they might launch a move in the ongoing transfer window itself. With Kamara demanding a contract worth £150,000-a-week, it remains to be seen who among West Ham and Newcastle come out on top in this battle.
