Arsenal can use Matteo Guendouzi to embarrass Tottenham in the summer transfer window. Both north London sides are reportedly interested in Boubacar Kamara from Marseille with the Gunners in prime position to swoop in ahead of their rivals.
According to Goal, as well as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are also interested in his signature. Kamara can play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder and has made over 150 appearances for Marseille.
The Gunners will be in desperate need of a midfielder in the summer, and the fact that he can also play as a centre-back should also provide another incentive for Arsenal to sign him. Mikel Arteta’s sale of Guendouzi could help push through a deal.
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In the previous summer transfer window, Arsenal sold Guendouzi to Marseille with a loan move that reportedly included an obligation-to-buy clause if the French side were not relegated. This now seems impossible as Marseille are chasing a spot in the Champions League next season.
Kamara has spent his entire career thus far with Marseille after coming through their academy. But with his current deal at the Stade Velodrome, it means his contract is set to expire, and the French club haven’t been pushing for a deal potentially due to the recent financial problems they had.
Guendouzi will be sold to the French side at the end of the season for £12.6m, meaning Marseille would have strengthened in their midfield positions, while Arsenal loses depth in a position that is already short, and it is because of this that Edu should look to explore the free transfer of Kamara.
Arsenal are set to be short in the midfield position in the summer. This is because football.london understands that Roma are expected to make a fresh attempt to sign Granit Xhaka at the end of the season.
This will mean that Thomas Partey would be the only experienced midfielder in the team. Mohamed Elneny’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and Albert Sambi Lokonga still needs time to mature.
Not only would Kamara provide depth with experience in the midfield positions, but his ability to play in defence could also be required ahead of next season. Especially if William Saliba departs from the club, as the Gunners would only have three centre-backs in the squad in Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Ben White.
Saliba put doubts into his future at Arsenal while on international duty with France. He said: I’ve never hidden that I feel good here. I think discussions will take place, afterward, at the end of May to early June between Arsenal and Marseille.”
“We’ll decide at that point. Staying on here[Marseille] would definitely not be a bad idea, but it doesn’t depend on me.”
Stealing Kamara from the hands of Tottenham would certainly help Arsenal solve two shortage issues with one signing. Guendouzi could have played a major role in helping Arsenal achieve this.
