Report explains why £43m Arsenal target performed U-turn and decided to stay

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Arsenal linked midfielder Boubakary Soumare decided against moving away from Lille after holding clear-the-air talks with the Ligue 1 side’s president Gerard Lopez, according to La Voix du Nord.

Surprisingly enough, the transfer deadline passed at the Stade Pierre Mauroy without the France U21 international bidding farewell to Jose Fonte, Jonathan David and co.

As recently as last week, Lille president Lopez told France Bleu that Soumare was free to leave the club ‘in the next few days’.

AC Milan made a move while Arsenal showed an interest too, according to FootMercato, before caving at almost the last second and deciding to trigger the £51 million release clause in Thomas Partey’s Atletico Madrid contract instead.

While the extent of Arsenal’s interest remains uncertain, it may be no coincidence that Mikel Arteta’s side went hell for leather on Partey after Soumare opted to stay on the other side of the Channel for another year.

According to the reliable La Voix du Nord, the £43 million-rated former PSG youngster held talks with Lopez in the final few days of the window to calm the storm that has been brewing between the midfielder and the president in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Soumare was left out of Lille’s squad for the 3-0 thrashing of Strasbourg with the Ligue 1 outfit preparing for his exit.

Some 24 hours later, the divisions had been overcome and Soumare was committing himself to spending the 2020/21 season with Les Dogues.

As you might expect, Lille coach Christoph Galter was delighted to hear that one of France’s most gifted footballers is sticking around.