'Very, very big...' - Sky Sports man thrilled as Villa transfer news breaks live on air

Aston Villa have completed a ‘very big’ deal for 22-year-old midfielder Boubacar Kamara as Sky Sports presenter Tom White was left gushing over the player on live TV on Monday morning.

Kamara had reached the end of his contract at Marseilles, and so he’ll be moving to Villa on a free transfer.

The move kicks off Steven Gerrard’s first summer transfer window at the club following his arrival back in November.

Villa wound up finishing 14th in the Premier League table after failing to win any of their last four matches, but Gerrard wants to build a squad that can compete for Europe.

Kamara is capable of operating as both a defensive midfielder and a centre-back.

Live on Sky Sports News on Monday morning, journalist White excitedly shared the announcement coming out of Villa Park.

He said that Villa had won a hotly-contested race for the youngster and seemed extremely impressed by the signing.

“We’ve got big breaking transfers news here,” he said. “Aston Villa have just announced that they’ve signed Boubacar Kamara on a five-year contract.

“He’s out of contract at the end of this season. He’s been playing really, really well for Marseille.

“Aston Villa will have fought off a lot of clubs to sign this player but they’ve got him.

“This is a very, very big signing for Aston Villa.”

There were indeed other Premier League clubs linked with Kamara.

French outlet Foot Mercato reported that both Newcastle United and Manchester United were keen, as well as a top La Liga club in Atletico Madrid.

Two of those clubs – Atletico and Man. United – can offer European football next season, while Newcastle are extremely ambitious themselves.

But perhaps the draw of working with Steven Gerrard has proven to be key for Villa.

Gerrard is an