Boubacar Kamara

[Dave]

Announce his contract extension.

I've always wondered how contract extension negotiations work with players who arrived on a Bosman.  It's widely accepted that as they come for "free" there will be some sort of wage-related inducement for them to sign, which might put their wages higher than if we'd paid £20m for them.  When they renegotiate, do their wages get "re-adjusted" into non-Bosman levels?  Or does someone who came on a Bosman likely have higher wages (on average) than a non-Bosman for their entire time at a club, because everyone wants a pay rise at renegotiating time, and they're already starting at a higher level?

I'm sure the same is true of Youri.

Thought it was usually a signing bonus. As he came in under Gerrard who put both Coutinho and Carlos on stupidly high wages, I'm guessing Boubi will be on high as well, although coming from a French club, just going on normal Prem wages would have been a massive boost for him.

Obviously there's nothing official, but apparently it's in the ball-park of going from £40,000 per week at Marseille to £150,000 per week with us.

I assume it's just what the market and the player's worth dictates - I reckon we'd probably offer him the same as he's on now. If he were 30 rather than 25 we'd probably offer him less but he's at an age and with a skillset that makes him very valuable to us and others.

His agent will see if anyone else would be willing to pay him more. If they would then he'll demand more from us. If they wouldn't then he'll probably just sign. But I expect someone probably would offer him more than we're currently paying him, so we'd end up paying him more.

[Somniloquism]

Just found this website with apparent breakdowns, again not official. It has him and Watkins on the highest amount for us. No mention of Diaby who was supposedly let go more on the wage turnover rules then specific PSR.

Interesting that Spurs wages seem to be above ours now.........

[Rigadon]

If that is anything like the truth, some of the salaries are absolutely nuts.  Verane on nearly £18m a year?!  Rashford nearly £20m! 

It makes clear the advantage that clubs who have been successful before the 'FFP' drawbridge was pulled up enjoy too.

[LeeB]

Man Utd are paying mad money to loads of players, it's why they're stuck where they are, there's nobody willing to pay half the wages those duds are on there.

[SoccerHQ]

Thought he was comfortably our MOTM yesterday.

Been here two and a half years so contract talks need to start as a matter of urgency as the stats prove how important he is when he's playing as opposed to not.

[ChicagoLion]

Thought he was comfortably our MOTM yesterday.

Been here two and a half years so contract talks need to start as a matter of urgency as the stats prove how important he is when he's playing as opposed to not.

He looked absolute class and worried that he is going to attract some serious attention soon.
Not too many players in the PL that can do what he does in that position.

[eamonn]

He did pass the ball out of play under no pressure in the second half so let's not worship false idols.

[RamboandBruno]

Along with Martinez, the most important player in the team for me. Class.

[dcdavecollett]

MotM for me on Saturday, after the early play when the Saints tried to out-muscle him.

[olaftab]

He did pass the ball out of play under no pressure in the second half so let's not worship false idols.

And there was an opportunity in ideal windy conditions to drop a simple 60 yard lob over Lumley’s head into the net and he chose to pass back to Pau. Tut tut NGE in my opinion.

[SaddVillan]

From The Torygraph

Boubacar Kamara is Aston Villa’s answer to Rodri – here is why
Defensive midfielder goes under the radar but has become Unai Emery’s key man after being signed on free transfer by Steven Gerrard

Aston Villa supporters do not look back fondly on Steven Gerrard’s brief tenure as manager, but there can be no question his legacy was the signing of Boubacar Kamara.

Gerrard was hugely influential in the capture of the France international in May 2022, making a personal visit to Kamara’s Marseille apartment to persuade him to join on a free transfer.

In Kamara’s early years growing up in the port city, the former Liverpool captain was a hero of his so the prospect of playing under him was always going to prove decisive.

Gerrard’s reign did not last long, ending brutally in October that year, and it is now Unai Emery who is discovering that Kamara is indispensable for Villa.

Kamara is the low-maintenance star who goes under the radar but is arguably Villa’s most underrated – perhaps even best – player.

While there is the brilliance of showman Emiliano Martínez, the goals of Ollie Watkins, unpredictability of Jhon Durán and the ball of Scottish energy that is John McGinn, Kamara is utterly invaluable.

It is perhaps only now with outstanding operators such as Manchester City’s Rodri that we can fully appreciate the importance of a defensive midfielder. Kamara is Villa’s equivalent of the current Ballon d’Or holder, a footballer designed for the modern game: he regularly drops into the back line when Villa are building up attacks forward, and can comfortably dictate the pace of matches.

When Villa signed him at the age of 22, they had done their homework for the mid to long-term. Kamara had played all the junior levels from under-17s upwards up to France’s senior team, while also possessing vast experience in both the Champions League and Europa League with Marseille.

Ultra-professional and dedicated to improvement, Kamara is a dream for such a meticulous manager as Emery.

It is imperative to Villa’s season, both in the Champions League and Premier League, that he remains fit. He missed the second half of last season and the start of this one with a serious knee ligament injury.

Though Villa were being propelled on a tidal wave of momentum by the brilliance of Emery, Kamara’s absence was huge. During his time out injured, Villa’s defensive performances dropped significantly and weakened the influence of Douglas Luiz. The first two months of rehabilitation were difficult. With Villa embarking on a stirring journey under Emery to eventually secure a top-four finish, Kamara was aware it would be a long road back. Yet his mentality remained iron-strong and the high standards of his daily recovery routine impressed club staff.

Now he has returned to add solidity and intelligence to Villa’s midfield. He made his long-awaited return as a substitute in the Champions League match at home to Bologna on Oct 22 and has played consistently since. Against Southampton on Saturday, in his 50th Premier League appearance for the club, Kamara once again underlined his enduring quality.

It is tempting to wonder whether Villa would have been under pressure to sell him this summer if he had avoided injury.

Pressure to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules forced some uncomfortable decisions, and Kamara has admirers across Europe. Yet he is now only focusing on a future in claret and blue. Kamara turned 25 last month and has his best years ahead of him. Villa are aware of his importance and even feel he can play with £50 million record signing Amadou Onana together in midfield.

Ahead of Villa’s sixth Champions League match, away at RB Leipzig on Tuesday night, Kamara will have another chance to underline why he is Emery’s most valuable player.

[Chip Butty 111]

Absolutely superb tonight, strolling around controlling the middle without any fuss. Our game management is up 3 levels with him back.

[usav]

Absolutely superb tonight, strolling around controlling the middle without any fuss. Our game management is up 3 levels with him back.

Absolutely - unless the oppo bypass the midfield like they did for both goals tonight.

[Hillbilly]

France Beckenbauer.

[PaulWinch again]

Prioritise a contract for this man - if I were Man Citeh I’d see him as largely filling the Rodri gap.