Leeds United are no longer in contention for Mohamed Camara’s signing this summer.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Austrian media outlet Salzburg 24 (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite Victor Orta believed to have launched a €30m (£25m) bid for the Red Bull Salzburg midfielder this summer, the 22-year-old’s proposed switch to Elland Road has now fallen through.
The report goes on to state that Salzburg chief Christoph Freund has now ordered the Mali international back to pre-season training in light of recent developments, having initially been given time off in order to sort out his future.
Orta shocker
Considering just how talented a holding midfielder Camara has proven himself to be at Salzburg, the argument that Orta has had something of a shocker in not pursuing a deal for the 22-year-old this summer is an easy one to make.
Indeed, over his 25 Austrian Bundesliga appearances last season, the £24.3m-rated talent was in fantastic form, scoring one goal, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.9 shots, making 1.0 key pass and completing 1.8 dribbles per match.
The £2.9k-per-week midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.9 tackles, 45.8 passes, 4.8 long balls and winning 6.4 duels – at a success rate of 61% – per game.
These returns saw the player who Jacek Kulig dubbed an “amazing signing” for a top Premier League side average a quite brilliant SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as the tenth-best player in the league in 2021/22.
Furthermore, the Malian also highly impressed over his eight appearances in last season’s Champions League, making an average of 2.1 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 40.3 passes, 3.6 long balls and winning 7.4 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per fixture, with these metrics seeing the former FC Liefering starlet average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94.
As such, with Leeds having lost the services of Kalvin Phillips this summer, it is clear to see that a player of Camara’s skill set would have made a fantastic addition to Jesse Marsch’s side ahead of the 2022/23 campaign – leading us to believe that Orta’s decision not to make a move for the Salzburg sensation is one that could easily come back to haunt him.
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