Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Newcastle United are reportedly vying for for highly-rated defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara.
According to Foot Mercato, Atletico Madrid are ahead of Newcastle United and Manchester United in the race to sign highly-rated utility man Boubacar Kamara. The French star is set to leave Marseille as a free agent, with plenty of clubs across the continent vying for his signature.
Boubacar Kamara has proved a point during his fruitful time at Marseille, making him one of the notable names for the upcoming summer window. What is important is his contractual situation, as he will be able to leave the Ligue 1 giants on a free transfer when his deal expires in June.
Marseille are still hopeful of convincing the midfielder to stay put, having made several new contract offers. However, in light of the overwhelming interest from Premier League and La Liga giants, Kamara might choose to leave on a free transfer rather than spending another season at the Ligue 1 outfit.
Rumours of a verbal agreement with Atletico Madrid are circulating in the media, although nothing has been signed between the La Liga champions and Kamara. Hence, other suitors have every opportunity to make their case to the player and his entourage in the coming months.
Diego Simeone is keen on refreshing his options in the middle of the park in the summer. A defensive midfielder may not be of utmost necessity at Atletico, but a player of Kamara’s quality has made the manager change his plans.
Amid all the talk about the alleged verbal agreement, clubs like Manchester United and Newcastle United are trailing Atletico Madrid in the race for the midfielder’s signature. The Red Devils even rejected the chance to sign him in January, as they pondered who their next permanent manager would be.
Manchester United may not want to bring in players without the consent of their next manager. However, considering his quality for Marseille, he could yet be one of their targets in the summer transfer window. But they might miss out on the French utility man, assuming they will prioritise the appointment of their new boss.
There is still significant interest from other Premier League outfits, including Newcastle United. The Magpies are keen on showcasing their newfound financial muscle and prising some of the top talents to St. James’ Park. Even though Kamara could be a potential free transfer, Newcastle could still offer an attractive contract.
Eddie Howe will be keen to explore the idea of landing Kamara following his displays at Marseille in the last few seasons. The defensive midfielder would also fit into the club’s philosophy of adding highly-rated young stars into their ranks, as seen with the signing of Bruno Guimaraes in the January window.
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There were also whispers about a possible interest from Real Madrid, although the Merengues could prioritise signing other, more established stars. It could be relieving for Atletico Madrid, who could move ahead and look to seal the move for the French utility man sooner rather than later.
It remains to be seen if Kamara keeps his word and joins the La Liga champions in the summer. However, if Manchester United or Newcastle United make a concrete offer, things could certainly change rapidly for the Marseille midfielder.
