Barcelona and Bayern Munich have reportedly been joined by Manchester United in pursuit of 22-year-old Marseille star Boubacar Kamara.
According to a report by The Athletic, Boubacar Kamara has popped up on the radar of Manchester United over a Bosman move in next summer’s transfer window. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also courting the 22-year-old Marseille utility man.
Boubacar Kamara joined Marseille as a five-year-old in 2005 and has since come a long way in his career. The Frenchman made his first-team debut for Les Phoceens in December 2016, aged just 17. And in the last five years, he has become a pivotal figure for the Ligue 1 heavyweights.
To date, the 22-year-old has made 141 appearances for Marseille, chipping in with four goals and five assists in the process. However, the French club is in a spot of bother over Kamara’s long-term future, as he is in the final year of his contract and will be able to negotiate with foreign teams at the turn of the year. His situation has alerted Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Widespread reports have claimed that Kamara has become a priority target for Barcelona, and the interest from the Blaugrana is understandable. With Sergio Busquets in the twilight of his career, the Catalan giants need to lay down a succession plan for him, with Kamara a viable replacement option.
At the same time, the 22-year-old could also slot into the Barcelona defence, considering he can play as a centre-back equally adeptly. On the other hand, Manchester United’s eagerness to sign the French utility man is justified because Ralf Rangnick does not have a reliable defensive midfielder at his disposal.
The Red Devils have been linked previously with Kamara, and the Marseille star could be a long-term replacement for Nemanja Matic, who is in the twilight of his career. With neither Fred nor Scott McTominay a natural holding midfielder, signing Kamara is imperative for Manchester United.
In addition to Barcelona and Manchester United, the 22-year-old is also a target for Bayern Munich, and it looks like a transfer battle to secure his services on a free transfer could ensue next summer. For now, what appears to be certain is that Kamara’s time at Marseille is winding down. It remains to be seen where he plies his trade in the 2022/23 season.