‘Door is open’: President won’t stop reported £43m Arsenal target from leaving

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Lille president Gerard Lopez has admitted that the ‘door is open’ if Arsenal target Boubakary Soumare wants to leave the Ligue 1 outfit during the summer transfer window, speaking to Telefoot via ButFootballClub.

Since the start of 2019, the Gunners have raided Les Dogues on two separate occasions, luring two of the biggest young talents in French football to the Emirates.

And reports from FootMercato last week suggested that Soumare, a France U21 international compared to Paul Pogba due to his mix of physical and technical gifts, could soon reunite with Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Magalhaes in the English capital.

Soumare famously turned down the chance to become Newcastle United’s record signing in January.

But he would surely be tempted to join a pair of former teammates at an Arsenal side that has won two trophies since the start of August.

“He is a player who has interest (from elsewhere). He has the ability to make the difference. He is a player who is in the France team. A player that people are watching,” said the always outspoken Lopez.

“We have a wage structure which means that a young player will never earn what he could earn elsewhere. There are some big offers for (Soumare).

“The door is open if he wants to leave.”

Lopez added that, due to coach Christophe Galtier’s preference for a midfield two, Soumare is far from guaranteed a starting berth in 2020/21.

The one-time PSG youngster started just 15 Ligue 1 games last season and managed just eight minutes in the opening day draw with Rennes in August.

He was left out entirely against Reims on Saturday.

If Arsenal are willing to make an offer in the region of £43 million, Lille could jump at the chance to cash in on a player who has spent more time on the bench than he would have liked recently.