After finishing 14th in the Premier League, Steven Gerrard said he would work "tirelessly" this summer to strengthen his squad and he had completed his second trade before the transfer window. France international Bubacar Camara arrived at Villa Park to provide gerrard's midfield with more defensive strength, following Filippo Cantinho agreeing to stay permanently.
Steven Gerrard said that after signing French midfielder Bubacar Camara from Marseille, Aston Villa attracted "one of the most promising young talents in European football".
The 22-year-old will move to Birmingham for free from Marseille, when his contract expires at the end of June. Camara - who has just received his first senior call in France - has agreed to sign a five-year contract at Villa Park. After graduating from the Marseille Academy, Kamala went on to make more than 100 appearances for the club and helped them qualify for the Champions League, finishing second in Ligue 1 this season. Kamala will provide a solid defence for Gerard's Villa side and the former England midfielder is delighted to sign, saying: "We have a very clear plan to make our team stronger and Buba is an important part of that. ”
The Premier League season has just ended and Gerrard has been very efficient in the transfer market, with Camara on permanent loan from Barcelona with the addition of Philippe Cantinho.
Excited about the future, Kamala knew Villa was the right place for him almost immediately, saying: "When I met Steven (Gerald), Christian (Perthlow) and John (Lange) at home, I knew Aston Villa was me. Their ambitions and determination to succeed coincide with mine. I can't wait for the preseason to start. West Ham are believed to have begun preliminary talks with Jesse Lingard's representatives on a return to the London stadium this summer.
Both BBC Sports and Sky Sports have reported questioning the England international's next move and the striker's contract at Manchester United has expired.
Jesse Lingard was refused to leave Old Trafford in the winter and interim manager Ralph Lonnick is keen to get him involved in his first-team plans, but most of his appearances this season have been on the bench, with he starting just twice in the Premier League. The 29-year-old managed to reach West Ham United on loan in the second half of the 2020/21 season, scoring nine goals and performing well, putting him on the brink of being named to the European Champions of England. But after returning to Manchester United, he failed to overtake players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jardim Sancho, the latter of whom he signed from Borussia Dortmund and basically played in the same position.
West Ham United are seen as interested in bringing Jesse Lingard back to East London, while Newcastle are also trying to bring him in during the January transfer window – although it is understood Eddie Howe is no longer in the striker's market. Jesse Lingard's time at his boyhood club Manchester United is over, with his brother complaining that he was not sent away at Old Trafford after "20 years of sweat and tears, four domestic trophies and three cup final goals". Jesse Lingard turned down a loan last summer when his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assured him he would get a chance to play first-team. However, before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November, he started only once.
He has only started three games since interim boss Ralph Ronnick took office. The club rejected a proposal to loan Jesse Lingard to Newcastle in January. If Eddie Howe's side remains in the Premier League this season, United will demand a £2.5 million loan fee and a £12.5 million prize money for him.