Football
ESPN staff 7y

Ola Kamara focused on playoff push, not concerned with Crew SC extension

Ola Kamara says he's not concerned with his unsettled contract situation amid Columbus Crew SC's push to reach the MLS playoffs.

The forward has two years left on his current deal, but multiple sources told ESPN FC on Wednesday that Kamara would look to leave MLS this winter after negotiations on an extension stalled.

But with Crew SC clinging to an Eastern Conference playoff spot with nine games, Kamara says he's concentrating on the pitch and leaving the talks up to his representatives and Columbus coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter.

"I don't even think about it, to be honest because the whole time I've been focused on game to game, week by week," Kamara told reporters on Thursday. "I'm not talking to Gregg about contracts at all. That's my agent and Gregg talking."

He added: "I feel like it's just a headline that's for stirring a little bit. For me, it's just a headline that's going to try to disturb [our focus] a little bit. But I don't think it does. I don't think anybody cares, so it's OK."

Kamara also said it would be more appropriate to talk about his future after the season has ended.

"It's more in the end of the season you talk about it. Not your last nine games in front of a playoff run," the 27-year-old said. "That's just the wrong time."

Kamara is currently tied for fifth in MLS with 12 goals this season, and his 28 goals over the past two campaigns rank him tied for third alongside Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco.

And Berhalter on Thursday echoed what he told ESPN FC earlier in the week, saying: "We want Ola here for a long time and we want to make him a big part of this club and I think all things like that will run its course in due time."

Also on Thursday, Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram confirmed to the Columbus Dispatch that he would join up with Iraq's national team for its final World Cup qualifiers at the end of the month.

Meram did not feature in Iraq's qualifier against Australia in May. The national team has already been eliminated from qualifying for the World Cup.

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