Lille are prepared to sell Tottenham Hotspur target Boubakary Soumare in the January transfer window, per L’Equipe via Sport Witness.
What’s the word?
Soumare is said to be wanted by a number of clubs, including Real Madrid, Valencia and Napoli.
However, the report states that the Ligue 1 outfit are ready to sanction his sale due to Renato Sanches’ emergence in the centre of the club’s midfield.
Soumare will cost between €50m (£42.8m) and €60m (£51.4m) in the winter window and Spurs are said to be “waiting” for his arrival.
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Jose Mourinho, of course, raided Lille after his appointment at Spurs, bringing in Joao Sacramento and Nuno Santos from the French club.
Dier upgrade
Soumare is a defensive midfielder by trade and one feels that he would instantly improve Mourinho’s team.
At the moment, he is relying on Eric Dier to provide the steel in midfield but he is not doing the best job of it; against Chelsea, at the weekend, he was hooked at half-time.
Soumare, though, has the attributes to be a star in the position.
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Per WhoScored, he averages 1.2 tackles per game and 0.9 interceptions in Ligue 1, across 17 appearances.
The 6 foot 2 player also averages 1.2 dribbles per game and, at the age of 20, has room to grow and improve, and has the raw tools to potentially improve while playing alongside the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele.
It is a steep asking price, that is to be sure, but he could well become a first-team player in north London.
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