BACK TO FRANCE?
MONACO KEEN TO SIGN MIDFIELDER BUT CITY WANT INCREASED OFFER
AS Monaco have reportedly made a £12.7 million offer for Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumare, writes Luke Pawley.
The 23-year-old joined City for £17 million from French side Lille last season off the back of picking up a Ligue 1 winner’s medal.
But he has struggled to adapt to some physical elements of the English game and is one of several players likely to depart the King Power Stadium before the transfer window closes.
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Monaco have made a €15 million (£12.7 million) offer for Soumare, including bonuses, but it appears there is a bit more work to do yet to get a deal over the line.
Leicester are said to want “at least €20 million” (£17 million) to recoup what they paid for the Frenchman.
AS Monaco are expected to make a new offer but it is unclear whether they will meet Leicester’s asking price.
The two clubs have done business before, of course, with Leicester loaning and later buying Belgian mdifielder Youri Tielemans from the Ligue 1 giants in 2019.
Other clubs are interested in signing Soumare after just one year in the Premier League, but AS Monaco seem to be leading the race for his signature.
It is understood recent reports suggesting Soumare was at the Monaco training ground were incorrect.
Monaco were thought to be interested in taking Soumare on loan, but it now appears they are keen on a permanent move.
Leicester will be looking to move more midfielders on, with Tielemans, Dennis Praet and Hamza Choudhury most likely to leave.
Speaking after City lost to Tottenham in April, manager Brendan Rodgers said of Soumare: “We need more from him. This year has been tough for him and he will admit that himself.
“You see in moments when he makes those bursts and goes forward, he looks a good player, but it’s that other side of the game, it’s that pressing side, that aggressive side, that is maybe unnatural to him that you need to have when you play in the Premier League.”