Aston Villa Block Chelsea And Inter Raid On French Star: Is He Untouchable?

Aston Villa Block Chelsea And Inter Raid On French Star: Is He Untouchable? Aston Villa have told suitors that Boubacar Kamara is not for sale in January or beyond, according to Football Insider. Former Villa scout Mick Brown says Unai Emery treats the 26-year-old France international as a guaranteed starter and has no intention of weakening a midfield that is already short of options. Chelsea , Inter Milan and Saudi Pro League clubs have all been linked with him, yet Brown insists none of them will get a hearing. Why Villa have no choice Amadou Onana tore his cruciate ligament in July, and FotMob lists mid-April 2027 as his expected return, so the player best suited to work alongside Kamara will miss almost the whole season. Brown also claims Villa are trying to extend Ross Barkley’s stay. The 32-year-old has a long record of fitness setbacks, so he works as cover rather than a replacement. What Kamara gives Emery Kamara rarely makes highlight reels, but he keeps Villa’s shape together. FotMob credits him with 28 tackles, 56% of his duels won and 86.3% pass accuracy across 883 Premier League minutes this season. He can also drop into central defence, which Emery has needed before. The weaknesses are just as clear. He hasn’t scored, has managed only 0.14 expected goals from three shots and offers little in the final third. His body has let him down too, with a cruciate injury in February 2024 and a hamstring problem at the start of last season. Should Aston Villa treat Kamara as untouchable? MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa reacts after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 08, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Yes, and the reasoning is about this season rather than sentiment. Villa conceded three against Barcelona and four at Manchester United in their last two games. A team leaking goals like that cannot sell the one midfielder who protects their back line, least of all when Onana is out, and no January signing at Kamara’s level is likely to be affordable. His contract runs to 2030, so Villa face no pressure to cash in. If a huge bid arrives next summer, with Onana back and fit, the conversation changes. The real worry is cover. Kamara contributes almost nothing going forward, so Emery needs John McGinn, now 32, to provide the creativity next to him. Villa should use January to add one more holding midfielder, even on loan, rather than rely on Barkley’s body staying intact.