La Liga side Sevilla are reportedly set to make a move for Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumare in the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old has not had the best times at the King Power Stadium since his £18 million move from Lille in 2021. Soumare has made 60 appearances for the Foxes and has generally been underwhelming. Following Leicester’s relegation to the EFL Championship two years ago, Soumare was sent to Sevilla on a season-long loan. The France youth international had a reasonably successful spell with the Spanish team, making 34 appearances and impressing in many of them.
After Steve Cooper was unveiled as the new Leicester manager, there was hope that he would reintegrate Soumare into the starting lineup. Every new managerial appointment is usually considered a fresh start for fringe players. Given the potential Soumare showed as a youngster, this seemed the perfect time for the midfielder to show his best self. Leicester desperately needed a holding midfielder then, and the 25-year-old was viewed as the perfect man for that position.
Boubakary Soumare has dropped down the pecking order
However, Soumare never really managed to convince Cooper with his performances, so Oliver Skipp was subsequently signed. Following Wilfred Ndidi’s strong start to the season, Soumare has dropped down the pecking order. The Frenchman has made just one start this campaign, an unimpressive showing against League Two side Walsall in the Carabao Cup.
According to reports, Sevilla were interested in signing the midfielder after his successful loan spell with them last season. However, the La Liga side couldn’t procure the £12.5 million needed to sign Soumare on a permanent deal and backed out. Sevilla haven’t lost interest in Soumare though. According to Vamos Mi Sevilla FC, the seven-time Europa League winners are set to reopen talks with the former Lille star.
A permanent move to Spain is the best option for both the club and the player. Soumare’s potential has always been there, but he hasn’t been consistent at Leicester. He showed glimpses of his former self with Sevilla, and a move there may help him regain his confidence and show why he was so highly regarded in Europe a few years ago.
