According to a recent report by Le 10 Sport, Newcastle United are ready to launch another bid to acquire the services of Boubakary Soumare from LOSC Lille in the summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Magpies are willing to double the talented midfielder’s wages and guarantee regular playing time to convince him to make a switch to St. James’ Park at the end of this campaign.
In a recent interview (via BBC), Steve Bruce revealed that he saw a £35m bid accepted for the French youngster towards the end of the January transfer window, only to see the player reject the move as other top clubs were also interested in his services. Now that the Tyneside outfit are prepared to redouble their efforts to convince Soumare, it remains to be seen whether they can finally get their man next summer.
Soumare’s Impressive Rise In French Football
The 20-year-old has played in 29 matches for Lille this term and has one assist to his name in all competitions. Despite not contributing too much going forward, the French whizkid has enjoyed a solid campaign at the heart of Christophe Galtier’s midfield so far. He has averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.4 clearances per 90 minutes in the Ligue 1 this season. However, those numbers have gone up when he has featured in Europe as he made an average of 1.0 tackles, 2.0 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per game in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League (stats via whoscored).
The Paris Saint-Germain youth product has also represented France at every youth level from Under-16 onwards, which goes to highlight his steady growth at the international level. The next step for him would be to stake a claim in Didier Deschamps’ French squad, so a high-profile move to Newcastle could give him the perfect platform to prove his worth and secure a first senior cap for his nation in the coming years.
At such a tender age, Soumare has already managed to make himself a regular feature in the Lille starting XI. With over 50 appearances to his name in the Ligue 1, the French starlet has gradually transformed himself into a tough-tackling defensive midfielder. However, he has endured a dip in form over the past few weeks which explains why he has not earned a single minute of playing time in Lille’s last four matches in the French first division.
What Are The French Midfield Ace’s Best Attributes?
Soumare is a midfield powerhouse as he can use his upper body strength to overpower the opposition and win the ball back for his side. He has completed three dribbles per 90 minutes in the Champions League this season which proves that he is not shy about making some driving runs with the ball (stats via whoscored).
Is Soumare The Right Choice For The Magpies?
The Ligue 1 prospect will undeniably be an excellent choice for the Magpies as he is a young, energetic and dominant midfielder who could bring some bite and steel back to Bruce’s first-team. He will not only provide adequate protection to the Newcastle backline but could also add another dimension to their attack through his powerful runs and accurate ball-distribution.
Bruce has often opted to set-up his team in a 5-4-1 formation so that his players can be more competitive in the Premier League. Hence, Soumare’s addition could allow the Magpies boss to be more adventurous with his formations and tactics next season if he can find a way to convince him to join this summer.
