Willy Kambwala is closing in on a swift exit from Manchester United after a promising breakthrough season.
After Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo established themselves as two of the first names on Erik ten Hag’s team sheet, a promising French centre-back looked like being one of the next in line.
Willy Kambwala was even spotted with a new shirt number in pre-season training.
The former France youth captain went from 53 to 32, inheriting the number once worn by Carlos Tevez and Victor Valdes in a hint at a larger role in the coming campaign.
But with Manchester United now pursuing both Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro – seemingly keen to bring in two right-sided centre-halves in the same summer – Kambwala appeared to have serious reservations about what the future would hold for him under Ten Hag.
Jonny Evans has also signed a one-year contract extension.
Reports earlier in the week emerged that Kambwala had turned down a new contract at Old Trafford, per Christopher Michel.
There is interest from clubs in Spain, Italy, Germany and the USA. What’s more, with his current deal expiring in 2025, Man United were always going to have a difficult decision to make if any of his many suitors stepped up their interest.
A situation that has now occured.
Manchester United could sell Willy Kambwala
According to Fabrizio Romano, writing on X, Villarreal are now edging closer to a deal that would see Kambwala move to the Castellon Coast for £8.5 million.
An agreement now appears to be imminent, Romano insisting that those three magic words will be uttered very soon.
Interestingly, Man United are reportedly including a buy-back clause in Kambwala’s contract.
The Red Devils did the same when sending goalkeeper Matej Kovar to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen last summer, potentially taking a leaf out of the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s playbook.
Barca utilised a buy-back clause to bring back Jordi Alba, while Real Madrid did the same with Dani Carvajal.
The reigning European Champions also have a £7 million buy-back clause in Miguel Gutierrez’s contract.
The swashbuckling Girona left-back is one of the candidates to add to Man United’s defensive overhaul, though Ten Hag’s side would have to pay closer to £30 million.
United to include buy-back clause in contract
The departure of Kambwala will disappoint sections of the Man United support impressed by the way he adapted to life at first-team level during 10 senior outings last term.
But with De Ligt and potentially either Yoro or Jarrad Branthwaite arriving, it would probably benefit Kambwala more to play regular football week-in, week-out at Villarreal.
And, with United retaining the option to bring him back to Manchester, there is still a decent chance that this is not so much a ‘goodbye’ and more of a ‘see you later’.
“He is showing his qualities,” fellow Frenchman and former Man United tema-mate Raphael Varane told the Man United’s website of Kambwala few months ago.
“I think he will play more matches in the future and continue to improve. He is very young, but he is showing his qualities and we trust him.
“He has a great future.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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