Manchester United to battle Man City for Boubacar Kamara

According to Le10 Sport (h/t Express), Manchester United have joined Manchester City in the race to sign Marseille defender Boubacar Kamara.

The 20-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, earning rave reviews for his performances. A regular for the French giants, he has made 28 appearances this season, scoring two goals and assists apiece.

Although one of the club’s best talents and having two years left on his contract, Marseille need to sell players to stay within Financial Fair Play rules.

Les Olympiens were second in the table when the season was called off. This ensures their participation in next season’s Champions League. Kamara was an integral part of this success.

The player is capable of playing anywhere along the backline and also as a defensive midfielder. His versatility will be an added bonus to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

This asset will not be lost on Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard views the youngster as a long-term replacement for Fernandinho. The 35-year-old is nearing the end of his City career, having been a key player for a number of years.

According to the report, Solskjaer is keen to play Kamara alongside Harry Maguire. However, given his versatility, he could well be a replacement for the 32-year-old Nemanja Matic.

He is expected to cost around £28million. A decent fee in a regular market, but one that could prove to be substantial given the current financial crisis.

A key factor in signing the player could be our ability to offer Champions League football. United are well within their ability to do so once the season restarts.

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United are currently three points off fourth-placed Chelsea. We could also qualify for the competition provided we win the UEFA Europa League.

Manchester City are second in the league and should qualify. However, they could be dealt a tough hand if their two-year ban by UEFA is upheld.