Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Marseille wonderkid Boubacar Kamara, amidst other Premier league suitors.
The French international was born in France to a Senegalese father and a French mother.
He joined Marseille’s youth team in 2005 at the tender age of 5. Developing through the youth ranks, Kamara made his debut as a professional player when he clocked 17 years and 20 days on 13 December 2016. He played against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in a Coupe de la Ligue match.
The versatile youngster was initially eased into Marseille’s starting XI, playing in the central midfield role alongside an experienced Luiz Gustavo last season. This term, he has tremendously stamped his authority in the first-team squad as a consistent centre back.
Under Andre Villas-Boas this season, Kamara have been on a superlative form and progress, making 28 appearances in all competitions for his side and also capping his impressive performances with one goal and two assists.
The youngster has now amassed 57 league games since his breakthrough season at Marseille.
Standing at 6ft, Kamara is excellent in the air (winning 2.3 aerial duals per game), as well as on the ball. He has incredible pace, physically strong, has an incredible positioning sense and timing.
He makes an average of 2.8 tackles per game, 1.4 interception per game and 2.1 clearances per game, according to WhoScored.com.
Kamara’s ability to bring the ball out from the back with great composure and calmness belies his years, amassing 85.7 pass success percentage.
According to Marseille’s technical assistant Claude Fichaux, he compared Kamara to Brazilian defensive maestro Thiago Silva because of his elegance and ability to read the game.
The youngster has reiterated his desire to follow in the foot steps of Napoli’s defensive rock Koulibaly and Liverpool’s wall Virgil van Dijk, who plays in the same position as him.
“At the moment I like Kalidou Koulibaly and Virgil van Dijk very much,” Kamara told Ligue 1 website.
“They are the two benchmarks in my position, tough players, difficult to pass, with a good long game and plenty of character.”
Although his best position is yet to be straightened, but his versatility will definitely be beneficial to Arsenal. As his addition will more quality option at centre-back and also provide a cover in holding midfield role as he had done for Marseille last season.
With Marseille reportedly under serious pressure to raise £100million in order to avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions, as the club’s finances have been hugely affected due to the abrupt conclusion of the league, the club will be expected to offload some of their assets so as to raise funds.
With Arsenal’s interest in the defender, the Gunners would look to take advantage of the situation and negotiate a cut-price deal with the Ligue 1 club for their young defender this summer.
WATCH: Boubacar Kamara – The New Thiago Silva
