West Ham ‘involved in preliminary discussions’ as two transfer races for targets heat up

West Ham United are reportedly in the race to sign 22-year-old defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who is available on a free transfer this summer, but there is tough competition for the starlet’s services.

The Olympique de Marseille player is out of contract in the summer and is believed to be unlikely to sign fresh terms with the Ligue 1 side.

Both The Sun and Northern Echo both report that West Ham are one of the Premier League teams hoping to secure the services of a player who has made nine appearances for France U21s to date.

However, David Moyes’ side will have to see off interest from fellow suitors Manchester United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace for the energetic central midfielder. Some reports from France have suggested that the player is looking for wages of more than £150k per week, and a monstrous financial offer may be needed to secure the Marseille academy graduate’s signature in the next transfer window.

West Ham’s high-profile European run in the Europa League will only increase their chances of catching the player’s attention and if the east London outfit can secure European football again this season, that may be enough to see off the Magpies and Palace, while Manchester United might have higher profile transfer targets.

If Kamara signed, it would enable Moyes to rotate key man Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in the middle for the Hammers, and give the Europa League quarter-finalists more strength in the middle of the pitch.

The Northern Echo says that West Ham have already been ‘involved in preliminary discussions with Kamara’s agents’. However there is expected to be interest from Champions League sides in the versatile player too, with Atletico Madrid the latest top European tier team to be linked with a player who can also play full-back or in central defence.

Meanwhile, the Irons have also been linked with Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic. Local Italian outlet Corriere Fiorentino reports that West Ham are competing with Inter Milan for the Serbia international who is out of contract in 2023.

The 24-year-old centre-back signed a one-year contract extension earlier this year, though that is expected to cover Fiorentina, and guarantee a bigger transfer fee is collected, should the player be sold this coming summer.