Boubakary Soumare has impressed for Ligue 1 outfit Lille to earn links with Premier League pair Everton and Manchester City.
Everton and Manchester City are competing to sign Boubakary Soumare from Lille this summer, according to L’Equipe.
Lille are expected to finish as runners-up, albeit distant runners-up, to PSG in the Ligue 1 table this season with Christoph Galtier’s youthful side taking the division by storm.
As is customary, Les Dogues could also begin the 2019/20 campaign having lost many of their key players with Nicolas Pepe and Rafa Leao among those attracting interest.
And Soumare might also be on his way. A box-to-box midfielder who joined Lille from PSG in 2017, the 20-year-old has been scouted by Premier League duo Everton and Manchester City in recent weeks.
Everton perhaps see him as a replacement for exit-linked Idrissa Gueye while City are known to be looking for Fernandinho’s young protégé. Soumare, who has started just one of his 14 league appearances this season, fits the bill.
L’Equipe adds that Soumare was a target for Watford and Newcastle United in January though he wanted to stay at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. Lille also rejected £14 million bids from Valencia and Monaco a year ago.
The Mail first linked Everton and City with Soumare in January 2018, with Lille demanding £20 million for a player some have dubbed the ‘new Pogba’.
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