Back in January last year, Steve Bruce revealed just how close we came to signing Boboukary Soumaré, saying the player opted against a move to Tyneside after we had a club-record bid accepted.
15 months later, it’s being reported that the Lille star looks set to seal a summer move to Leicester City, with transfer supremo Fabrizio Romano announcing that the Foxes are now all set to sign the Frenchman.
Despite Sky Sports’ Keith Downie claiming that we’d agreed a staggering £45m fee with Lille back in January 2020, Romano reports that Leicester will pay just £25m for the 22-year-old.
So, a long-term target that will NOT be arriving at St James’ Park this summer, however it could yet turn out to be good news for Newcastle United.
Why? Because the signing of another midfielder will almost certainly see Hamza Choudhury leave the King Power Stadium this summer – a player who was all set to sign for us in January had Brendan Rodgers secured a replacement in time.
Who knows, Leicester may only entertain permanent bids – not the loan offer we had provisionally agreed earlier this year – but a deal for the tough tackling Choudhury could be back on the cards should Soumare arrive.
Here’s a reminder of what Bruce said about our bid for the highly-rated Frenchman last year:
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They get Soumare and we get Choudary? Just about sums us up.
taken4mugs(Quote)
If he not good enough for Leicester why do we want him.
Ed(Quote)
We don’t want Chowdhury, so how is it good news?
Glenn(Quote)
Don’t want dirty Choudhary – he doesn’t get a game at Leicester , even when they’re short-handed…not as good as Matty Longstaff. Jon. Kenton.
Jon.(Quote)
Why? Because the signing of another midfielder will almost certainly see Hamza Choudhury leave the King Power Stadium this summer
backrooms(Quote)
It’s been almost the whole season for him, but to be fair, other teams would be having a hard time too if they lost three key players for a couple of months.
snow rider 3d(Quote)