BRENDAN RODGERS is making a stunning £35million bid to bring French midfielder Boubakary Soumare to Leicester City.
The Foxes hope to agree a fee with Lille for their powerful star and offer him a deal worth around £5m to join them.
It is a huge statement by Leicester who are prepared to back Rodgers as they prepare for Champions League football – and keep him happy.
Soumare, 22, has been on Premier League wish lists for a couple of years, but the price tag has put off all previous attempts to sign him.
Newcastle and West Ham looked but stepped back, while Tottenham and Manchester United have also been linked.
However, Leicester are serious about spending big and hope to clinch the deal immediately.
Soumare has been a key part of Lille’s title bid with the Ligue 1 leaders one point clear of current champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Having made a name for himself at Stade Pierre-Mauroy after leaving PSG as a youngster, he has aroused the interest of several teams.
Soumare has over 100 appearances for Lille and 12 for France Under-21s.
The midfielder rejected a move out of Lille in January and boss Christophe Galtier praised how the player has dealt with speculation over his future.
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Galtier said in February: “At every transfer window, we talk about him.
“I know that he was in demand this winter, but he was very clear with the president, he wants to continue with us.
“The competition, the transfer window, the situation has not always been easy for him, but I think he has greater clarity in his mind.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
