Glen Kamara: Carlton Palmer makes Sunderland AFC "best place" claim amid Burnley, Middlesbrough tussle | OneFootball

The midfielder has struggled for minutes this season, and clubs in both the Premier League and Championship are looking to acquire his services.

Carlton Palmer feels Sunderland may be the "best place" for Glen Kamara to move to in 2025, although he has warned them, Burnley and Middlesbrough that they may not be favourites in the battle for the midfielder in January, as interest grows.

The former Leeds United man is out of favour at French club Stade Rennes, and clubs in both the Premier League and the Championship are targeting him ahead of the January transfer window.

According to TBR Football, both Ipswich Town and Southampton are keeping tabs on the 29-year-old, alongside Boro and the Clarets, while Sunderland have been long-term admirers, but there is a long way to go before a decision is made on his future.

Nevertheless, with Josh Brownhill's future not secured at Burnley, and Michael Carrick looking for more reinforcements in Middlesbrough's play-off push, the second tier sides will fancy their chances.

Palmer makes verdict on Kamara's future

Kamara joined Rennes for a reported €10m in the summer following the Whites' failure to win promotion to the Premier League, but after a bright start he has found game time more difficult to come by in the last couple of months.

Therefore, an exit in January is seemingly on the cards, and player-turned-pundit Palmer has spoken exclusively to Football League World about where he expects the midfielder to end up at by the time the month ends.

He told FLW: "Middlesbrough and Burnley have joined Sunderland in the race to sign Glen Kamara. There are several Premier League sides that are also keeping tabs on Camara’s situation, including Ipswich Town and Southampton, who occupy two out of the three relegation spots.

"I think both will end up back in the Championship next season, so they're looking at players who, if they do business in the January transfer window, can help them, but also players who can help them get promoted back to the Premier League.

"Kamara’s been struggling at Rennes since he moved in the summer for a reported €10m fee. The Finnish international has lost his spot in the side as is now firmly out of favour at the French club, so a January move is on the cards for a player who's not started a game since November, which coincides with the arrival of the new Rennes boss, Jorge Sampaoli."

Palmer continued: "So, there's a lot of interest in him. The Black Cats will be hoping that, because of their link with French football through Regis Le Bris, that they might have an advantage in bringing him to the UK. But whoever he signs for, he'll want assurances about game time. That's going to be very, very important to him.

"For whoever signs him, he would be a huge boost. He has experience of being involved in the promotion race, albeit Leeds came up short last season. But it's one of those that, whatever he does, if he leaves Rennes, no player is guaranteed of playing first team football, but he'll be looking for assurances about that.

"So whichever one of these football clubs is able to secure his signature, whether it's on loan or a permanent move, it would be good. I would think that the opportunity to play in the Premier League with Ipswich and Southampton, if they were genuinely interested in him, it would be appealing to him.

"But Burnley and Boro are firmly in that race to get promotion, as are Sunderland. I know Sunderland have just dropped off, but I think they would be the best place for him to go because he would be guaranteed football there. They need a bit of experience, and I think that it would be a fantastic move for him and for Sunderland."

Kamara could make the difference in the race for promotion

While there is no certainty surrounding his final destination at the moment, it can be said that Kamara has more than enough quality to be the difference in any one of the three Championship sides winning promotion or staying in the second tier.

His experience with Leeds will prove crucial, and he would be a game-changer. Scott Parker will be desperate to make sure that he has cover for Brownhill, while Middlesbrough will be looking to add more strength to their midfield.

While it did not work out at Rennes, Kamara has proven in the last year that he is more than capable in this division, and with the lack of certainty surrounding game time at Ipswich or Southampton, as well as survival in the Premier League, he may look to Burnley or Boro.

However, they must both keep an eye on Sunderland, as they are an extremely attractive proposition for the 29-year-old, and he could be the player to help fire them back to the top flight.