Soumare looks to be on his way to Monaco

MIDFIELDER KEEN ON RETURN TO HOMELAND

THERE is a “big possibility” that Boubakary Soumare will leave Leicester City soon, with the midfielder a target for Monaco.

Soumare, right, only arrived at the King Power Stadium a year ago in a £17 million move from Lille, but has struggled to establish himself as a trusted member of the squad and his gametime dwindled in the second half of last season.

Now, he is on course to exit the club.

Monaco are keen to strengthen their midfield ranks after Aurelien Tchouameni joined Real Madrid this summer, and have eyed Soumare as a potential signing.

Reports in France say a deal could go through for around €20 million (£17 million).

City manager Brendan Rodgers has said he will not consider Soumare for selection while his focus is on a move elsewhere, and the Frenchman was indeed left out of the squad for the opening game of the season against Brentford last weekend.

He started just one of City’s final 25 games of last season.

Asked if he expected Soumare to move on, Rodgers said: “There’s a big possibility.

“Bouba’s in a situation where there’s another club that want to take him.

“He’s training really well but at this moment in time, his focus, in fairness to him, is elsewhere. “But we know what the situation is. “There’s an opportunity that has come that interests him. “It’s only right that if he’s not going to be here, we have to look at other players in that

position.

“It’s a shame because over the course of pre-season, I saw real improvements in him. That’s where it’s at.

“Both him and I are of the understanding that if the situation changes, he will come back into the fold again.” Soumare is one of a number of players City could move on over the next few weeks, with Ayoze Perez and Caglar Soyuncu, both in the final year of their contracts, among them. Jannik Vestergaard is another, but he has rejected a move away, Rodgers has said.

The Danish defender, like Soumare, was signed last summer but quickly fell down the pecking order in the second half of last season.

He has been a target for newly-promoted Fulham this window, but has said he wants to remain at the King Power Stadium.

This week, Rodgers confirmed he had turned down a chance to leave the club, saying: “Jannik had an opportunity to move on.

“He didn’t want that opportunity. He wanted to stay.”

Bouba’s in a situation where there’s another club that want to take him. His focus is elsewhere

Brendan Rodgers