For a long time, it looked as if Boubakary Soumare would have no future at Leicester City, but he now finally looks like the player fans were expecting.
After spending the 2023/24 season out on loan, the Frenchman returned with the idea of being sold on.
No suitors came in for him and the Foxes were left with no choice but to keep Soumare on the books.
Despite claims from the likes of Conor Coady, who said that Soumare was the player that impressed him most in training, the midfielder has had to bide his time and wait for his chance.
Just days after looking sharp in the Carabao Cup defeat against Manchester United, he was brought off the bench against Ipswich Town to try and help deny the home side a first Premier League win this season.
And he did exactly that.
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Boubakary Soumare plays vital role in late Leicester equaliser
With Leicester trailing the game late into stoppage time, the Foxes needed someone to grab the game by the scruff of its neck and be a hero.
As the clock ticked into the fourth minute of stoppage time, Soumare retrieved possession by muscling off one Ipswich defender before shirking a second one and driving through with the ball.
His threaded pass then found the feet of fellow substitute Jordan Ayew, who exchanged a neat one-two with Jamie Vardy before prodding home and rescuing a point.
It could’ve been a very different story if it wasn’t for the 25-year-old’s lung-bursting efforts in the build-up to the goal. That point takes Steve Cooper’s side five points clear of the bottom three and provides some extra breathing room.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 12 |  FulhamFulham | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 13 |  Man UtdManchester United | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 11 |
| 14 |  West HamWest Ham | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 11 |
| 15 |  LeicesterLeicester | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 10 |
| 16 |  EvertonEverton | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 9 |
| 17 |  Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 7 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 21 | -11 | 5 |
Could Leicester keep Soumare beyond this season?
Soumare is one of the players out of contract in 2025 and it seemed inevitable he would be departing the King Power Stadium.
Recent performances may leave Cooper pondering if he has a future at the club after two impressive displays.
His high wages could mean that he is moved on anyway, and there is even the idea that Soumare is playing well to put himself in the shop window in response to reports linking him with a return to Sevilla.
In the meantime, the Leicester boss now has a decision to make on whether to stick or twist with the Frenchman.