If reports are to be believed, it took a last-ditch intervention from Lille president Gerard Lopez to convince Boubakary Soumare to stay at the Stade Pierre Mauroy until the New Year (La Voix du Nord).
The dynamic, all-action France U21 international has barely been out of the gossip columns over the last 12 months but, despite interest from Arsenal among others (FM), he remains the metronome at the heart of Les Dogues’ midfield.
While Soumare didn’t even move out of second gear as Lille fought back from two goals down to secure a Europa League draw against Celtic on Thursday, the one-time PSG starlet still strolled through the game with the kind of effortless elegance that often has scouts sweating.
Drifting between the lines, completing 88 per cent of his passes and forcing the overworked Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain into action with a venomous half-volley, those Paul Pogba comparisons clearly aren’t that far wide of the mark.
Yet with Arsenal landing their top target Thomas Partey on a dramatic deadline day, has a £44 million move to North London, not to mention a reunion with Gabriel Magalhaes, passed Soumare by?
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