The former Leeds United star is encouraged by Ipswich Town to sign him because he could be “an upgrade on Jack Taylor.”
According to French publication Foot Mercato, the Suffolk team is one of numerous teams keeping an eye on Kamara’s circumstances at Rennes, where the 29-year-old has had a terrible season since moving from Leeds for £8.4 million a year ago. As for a nightmare, under manager Habib Beye, Kamara has shockingly failed to play a single minute of Ligue 1 football this season, making an appearance in just two of the team’s seven matchday squads. However, as they aim to return to the top flight as soon as possible, the Tractor Boys, who are presently in ninth place in the Championship league with one game remaining, may need to bolster their backup midfield options.
Adam Wilkin, FLW’s Ipswich Town Fan Pundit, expressed excitement over Kamara’s potential contribution to McKenna’s team when he was questioned about the possible signing. “I think Glen Kamara would definitely represent an excellent depth option in centre midfield,” he told FLW. According to the previously cited Foot Mercato story, Rennes is only asking €3 million for the former Rangers player. “I think that’s exactly what he did when he came in to help get Leeds over the line – or try and get Leeds over the line – I can’t remember whether he was with them in the promotion season or whether he’d moved on by then,” Wilkin said.
After joining Leeds in the summer of 2023, Kamara played 40 league games in the next Championship season, winning 58% of his duels and completing 92.9% of his passes. Although he helped the Whites to that point, they lost to Southampton in the play-off final, and Kamara later signed with Rennes. However, Kamara was loaned out to Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia in January after making just 13 appearances and dishing just one assist in the second half of the previous season, so it appears that he may be leaving this winter window as well.
Wilkin was eager to emphasise Kamara’s potential to improve Town’s midfield rotation. “But, he provided a little bit of extra depth, and I’d say he’s probably an upgrade on Jack Taylor in terms of the fourth-choice midfielder there,” he said. Naturally, Taylor, who joined Ipswich from Peterborough United in 2023 and has since made 80 appearances for the team, recently inked a new three-year contract that will keep him there until the summer of 2028. However, the 27-year-old Republic of Ireland international has mostly been utilised as a substitute, coming off the bench in 55 of his 69 league appearances and starting only 23 of those 80 games.
When evaluating Kamara’s long-term chances at the club, the Fan Pundit was more level-headed. “Whether he’s a long-term signing that you’d think would cut in the Premier League, given his history and given that he’s 29, I’m not sure about that, but I think he would provide more cover to Azor Matusiwa and be more of that kind of a player,” Wilkin explained. This season, Matusiwa has started all eight of Town’s league games, establishing a productive connection in the middle of McKenna’s midfield with former Reims colleague Jens Cajuste.
Marcelino Nunez is there to cover the left side of Cajuste, but currently it appears to be clear,” Wilkin clarified. Therefore, it seems sense that we are examining Matusiwa because if he is hurt, we will be in danger.” The problem is that, given his stellar record in British football, Kamara’s decline at Rennes has been abrupt. From 2019 to 2023, he played with the Rangers for five successful seasons. Prior to being recognised as the Finnish Footballer of the Year in 2022, Kamara won the Scottish Premiership title in 20/21 and was included in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year that same season while he was at Ibrox.
Wilkin ended with a realistic evaluation of the possible trade, despite his experience: “If he’d want to come and play back-up then I’d be more than happy with that.” In actuality, it is unclear if Rennes would support a loan transfer or would want a permanent transfer. However, the French team’s urgency to get rid of a player they paid €10 million for fifteen months ago is demonstrated by their willingness to accept merely €3 million for him. Therefore, Ipswich would be wise to get Kamara for that much on a loan or permanent basis, especially if McKenna can get him back to the level he displayed at Rangers and Leeds.
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