According to L’Equipe (h/t Get French Football News), Everton and Manchester City have ramped up their efforts to sign Lille starlet Boubakary Soumare.
Boubakary Soumare, 20, has been of the core members of Christoph Galtier’s youthful side that has taken the Ligue 1 by storm. Though, Lille have ‘zero intention’ of letting him go following his performances this season and his potential for the next campaign, adds the report.
L’Equipe also claim that Watford and Newcastle United were interested in signing the youngster in January but the midfielder did not want to leave Lille. (h/t Get French Football News)
Considering everything, Everton must beat Manchester City to the signature of Boubakary Soumare in the summer.
Everton did manage to keep hold of Idrissa Gueye from the grasps of Paris Saint-Germain in January but come summer, the Ligue 1 outfit could make a move for the Senegalese again. In fact, Gueye remains keen on a move to PSG and hopes the French giants reignite their interest in the summer.
The Senegalese, 29, has been one of the consistent players for Everton since joining from Aston Villa in the summer of 2016. Due to his energy, ball-winning skills and tackling traits, he become of the Toffees’ one of the most important players under Marco Silva this campaign.
But Silva knows Gueye’s desire of playing for a club that participates in the Champions League and thus, he should start planning for life after the Senegal international.
That’s why Everton must do everything possible to bag the signature of Soumare, who has played 18 games in all competitions for Lille this campaign. A product of the PSG youth system, the 20-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder, known for his physicality, power and passing range. An excellent dribbler, he has exceptional body control and possesses the burst of pace which he uses to drive forward with the ball from midfield.
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The rangy midfielder is adept at breaking play with his interception and tackling skills, whilst having the ability to pick the right pass in the attacking third. All in all, Soumare’s energy and intensity make him a perfect fit for the Premier League.
With Everton’s propensity to start games slowly which has often put them under pressure, Soumare would surely be the ideal player to give them the control in the middle that they so require, along with the intensity that seems sorely lacking in their side.
Hence, Silva should prioritise the signing of the French youth international to challenge for a place in the Europa League next season.