Leicester City have made many signings over the years.
Some have gone on to become club legends like Jamie Vardy, however, others didn’t go on to be quite as successful.
Not every signing is destined to be a success but for one signing made back in 2021, big things were expected. Now, three years on, the club and its supporters are still waiting for that ‘wow factor’ he promised to deliver.
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Brendan Rodgers believed that £17m signing was a bargain
With Leicester coming off the back of winning the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history and narrowly missing out on the top four, the summer of 2021 was all about elevating to the next level.
One of the names who came through the door that window was Boubakary Soumare.
Fresh from winning Ligue 1 with Lille, the capture of the sought-after midfielder was seen as a real coup, with then-manager Brendan Rodgers believing that he could emulate his childhood hero, Paul Pogba, as revealed by The Athletic.
That hasn’t come to life so far and the 25-year-old’s game time has reduced year-by-year. The 2023/24 campaign was spent on loan at Sevilla and a permanent deal was only abandoned due to the Spanish side’s lack of finances.
Steve Cooper reveals plan for Boubakary Soumare
This season has seen him reintroduced by Steve Cooper and his game-changing performance against Ipswich Town even saw him rewarded with a start in the 3-0 defeat against Manchester United.
Like most in blue at Old Trafford, Soumare failed to set the world alight but both he and the Leicester boss aren’t writing off his Foxes career just yet.
| Boubakary Soumare Stats vs Man United | Value | Match Rank |
| Total passes | 69 | 3rd |
| Progressive passes | 4 | 3rd |
| Ball carries | 20 | 3rd |
| Progressive carries | 1 | 4th |
| Defensive actions | 15 | 5th |
| Involvements in attacking sequences | 2 | 7th |
| Build-up involvements | 24 | 2nd |
Soumare is a popular figure around the dressing room according to Cooper and the Welshman believes that he can play a box-to-box role in his side going forward.
“He’s a central midfield player and while some players like to sit deeper and others play further forward, I think he is a bit of an all-rounder,” Cooper says.
“I know at times through his career, he has been asked to do one or two of those things that I’ve just mentioned but I believe he can be a box-to-box midfield player.
“It is an old-fashioned term but it should never be lost. He can play anywhere in the midfield area and understand the role, and have a good impact in games.”
The Frenchman is running out of time to prove he does belong in the East Midlands. His contract is up at the end of the season and as one of the highest earners at the club, a decision will have to be made on whether they persist or hold their hands up and admit they got it wrong.