Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara is demanding a salary of £150,000 a week (£7.8m a year) from his next team, according to reports in the English media.

The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season, and he will be available on a free transfer with at least four Premier League clubs pursuing his signature.

Manchester United and Chelsea were first linked with Kamara but Newcastle and West Ham have also emerged as serious contenders over the past few days.

The wage demands are unlikely to deter the Red Devils, but there were some suggestions that Ralf Rangnick’s side would look to sign him this month, rather than wait until the summer.

However, Kamara is now said to have decided that he won’t leave Marseille midway through the season, so United will have to battle it out with other clubs to secure the 22-year-old on a pre-contract agreement instead.