Crystal Palace set to be snubbed by high profile transfer target

When Crystal Palace brought in Patrick Vieira as coach, one of the main reasons was to capture young developing players. Vieira had spent his time at New York City and Nice enjoying the chance to work with exciting young talent. The arrival of the former Arsenal captain at Palace, then, brought the same remit: use and develop youth. However, the other side of this was the hope that Vieira could attract players of French-speaking origin due to his gravitas in that part of the world.

Already, the arrival of players like Odsonne Edouard is proof that Palace have seen a reward from Vieira. Michael Olise, too, looks to be among the most exciting players in the Premier League. Having joined from Celtic and Reading, and with numerous other suitors, both players were potentially swayed by the presence of a French World Cup winner.

However, one thing to note about Palace is that the club is still a mid-table Premier League outfit. Vieira and a fancy style of play can only go so far in getting players to sign-up. This is why no Palace fan will be surprised that Boubacar Kamara, a recent name being suggested in the press as a signing in the summer, is not happening.

The Olympique Marseille man is regarded as one of the best young defensive midfielders in the world. A top-class operator in the ‘6’ position, he can also comfortably play in a back two or back three in a central role. His elite ball carrying skills are paired with a technical excellence and a reading of the game far beyond his young years.

However, for Palace fans, Kamara is a name that is a step beyond what could be achievable – regardless of league position.

Why can Palace not sign Boubacar Kamara?

Put simply, the player will have more lucrative and competitive offers elsewhere. The Frenchman is being linked with times like Roma, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, and even Real Madrid. As such, any move for a player of that level is likely to be a massive coup for Palace. The stars would need to align in a way in which they rarely do for the Eagles when it comes to such a marquee hire.

However, in truth, such signings have never been the M.O. for Palace. The club has been built on a steady diet of buying young players looking to make that next step to elite clubs. Signing someone like Kamara would go down as one of the most ambitious signings in Palace history.

Given the fact the player will be on a free transfer in the summer, though, his value is about to be as fair as it could be for any major player. With so many big names boxing clever in the transfer market, picking up an already-elite talent with so much room for growth is a no-brainer. Sadly, it feels like the stars would never properly align for Palace to make this deal one they could realistically accomplish.