According to RMC Sport, as cited by GFFN, Everton are interested in the services of Boubakary Soumare. They do, however, face competition from league rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose €40m bid for the midfielder was reportedly rejected by LOSC Lille. It seems unlikely Soumare would leave Lille this summer, but they could be forced into selling the star should any club come up with a lucrative offer.
Soumare is yet to make an impact in senior football
A product of the PSG youth academy, Soumare moved to LOSC Lille in 2017 in search of a breakthrough in senior football. He did end up making 14 league appearances in his debut campaign in Lille, but only three of them were starts.
Soumare didn’t exactly enjoy an improved role in the starting lineup last season either. He mustered only 551 minutes of league football, even though he did score his first Ligue 1 goal against Olympique Lyonnais.
That being said, the 20-year-old is expected to become a prominent part of the Lille midfield in the upcoming season. The French outfit had to deal with the departure of Thiago Mendes earlier this summer. Soumare, in that regard, is the likely replacement for the Brazilian.
He is one of Ligue 1’s hottest prospects
Even though Soumare is yet to make a notable impact in the French top-flight so far, he has impressed the onlookers with his attributes at the centre of the pitch. The youngster is an excellent athlete who is capable of covering a lot of ground and is even effective while pressing the opposition.
Aside from that, the Frenchman of Senegalese descent is gifted with immense technical quality. He is composed on the ball while his physical traits allow him to sustain pressure from opposing defenders. That means he can also act as a ball-carrier.
Furthermore, the 20-year-old is capable of augmenting the midfield with his excellent passing range, thus making him a well-rounded central midfielder.
Should Everton make a move for Soumare?
Everton are bracing themselves for the potential sale of Idrissa Gueye. Paris Saint-Germain reportedly agreed on a fee for the Senegalese international, and a move away from Goodison Park is on the horizon. Gueye’s departure will surely create a massive void in the midfield department.
Soumare, to that end, could turn out to be an excellent replacement for the ex-Aston Villa midfielder. He has the skill as well as the technique and athleticism to succeed in the Premier League.
However, sanctioning a big-money move for a young player, who is yet to make a notable breakthrough in senior football might be a huge risk on Everton. Hence, Silva should shift their attention towards a more experienced yet cheaper alternative in his bid to replace Gueye this summer.
