Since joining Leicester in the summer of 2021, it’s fair to say Boubakary Soumaré’s time in England hasn’t panned out the way he would have imagined. The four and a half year period has seen two relegations, a loan spell in Sevilla, whilst also falling out of favour multiple times. Despite joining as a Ligue 1 title winner, with interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, Soumaré has struggled to adapt to life in Leicester. Therefore, with the January transfer window now open, could a return to France be on the cards?
French Side Reignite Interest in Leicester’s Boubakary Soumaré
Boubakary Soumaré: On The Move?
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Monaco sees the Leicester midfielder as a potential target. The French side currently sits 9th in Ligue 1, with their last league win coming back in November against PSG. As Sebastian Pocognoli’s side is also in the Champions League, a move away from the East Midlands will seem more than attractive.
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Romano adds that Monaco has been aware of the player for a while, as he has been shortlisted in consecutive seasons. This isn’t even the first time the Monegasques have shown interest in Soumaré, either. They were close to securing his services back in the summer of 2022, when Brendan Rodgers made him surplus to requirements. However, the move didn’t come to fruition, and the player eventually featured 26 times in the league games as City suffered relegation from the top division.
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Under Marti Cifuentes, the 26-year-old has been in and out of the inconsistent squad. He has started just nine games all season and has dealt with injury struggles since early December. For his first season in the second tier, Soumaré hasn’t necessarily hit the ground running as his struggles at the club continue. Following his first full season for the Foxes, Rodgers gave his assessment. He said: “This year has been tough for him and he will admit that.” It never seemed to get much better, and although bright sparks came at points last season, the form was never consistent enough.
How Does This Affect Leicester and Monaco?
Whilst Soumaré hasn’t lived up to the hype of a few years prior, it’s fair to say there’s still a talented player in there. One of his best attributes is his ball carrying, as he can utilise his superior upper body strength to hold off the opponents and drive his side up the pitch. An example which perhaps best shows this is his role in the equalising goal against Ipswich. Outside of this, he also has the ability to break lines, which was another major reason for his move to the Foxes. He averaged 8.9 line breaks per 90 for Lille in the 2020/21 season, which was higher than Youri Tielemans’ numbers that season and further suggests his proficiency in that area.
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However, despite being an ‘all rounder’, this hasn’t led to excellent performances for City. His attitude has often come under scrutiny, as he often struggles with covering ground. The lack of mobility is perhaps best shown in his subpar defensive stats over the years. Therefore, with Oliver Skipp and Jordan James taking on the mantle in the double pivot this season, would Soumaré’s loss be as detrimental?
As for Monaco, they would be getting a once-talented player, who, if he can rejuvenate his form, would be a steal. His contract is also set to run out this summer, which further makes a move appealing for both sides. Leicester would be able to recoup some of the cash originally spent, whilst Monaco would be getting him at a cut price. Adding Soumaré mid-season could be crucial for their Ligue 1 campaign, as a ninth defeat against Lyon recently saw their troubles deepen.
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