Liverpool want £35m midfielder who rejected Newcastle

Liverpool want to sign Boubakary Soumare.

The £35 million midfielder rejected a move to Newcastle United in January and is now on the radar of Anfield chiefs.

Local Geordie newspaper the Evening Chronicle reported that Newcastle and Lille had agreed a price for the 21-year-old, only to see the Frenchman turn them down.

Now Le10Sport think he could have a similar choice to make as they have reported Liverpool’s interest.

Boubakary Soumare came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain but made his professional debut with Lille and has since impressed during his 70 appearances for the side.

With one goal and one assist, the France U21 international isn’t going to provide a creative spark in the engine room, but he could help take some pressure away from Fabinho.

He played 1,204 minutes as a defensive midfielder during 2019/2020, according to smarterscout, and displayed excellent ball retention, link-up play and was incredibly strong in his ground duels.

Liverpool are among a clutch of clubs who are interested in Soumare – as per Le10Sport. Newcastle would still like to sign him, said the Chronicle, while AC Milan and Real Madrid are really interested in what the youngster has been able to do for Lille.

Liverpool fans might be slightly perplexed about this one. If any midfielder is going to be signed this summer, it has to be Thiago.

The price range that Lille would want for their man is more than Bayern Munich are asking for Thiago, who is someone of proven, elite quality and someone who would help Jurgen Klopp break down stubborn defences.

Gini Wijnaldum still looks like he might be off to Barcelona, especially in light of news that he’s been refusing to sign a new deal to extend his stay on Merseyside.

While Soumare would provide youth in the middle of the park and longer security than the 29-year-old Thiago, any move for him still doesn’t make sense in the context of what Klopp needs in his squad now.