AS Roma could turn their attention to one of Steve Cooper’s lesser-sighted Leicester City players should their pursuit of Manu Kone prove unsuccessful.
Leicester City have made seven signings this summer, with Steve Cooper expected to add exciting attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannous imminently.
Cooper also wants a striker through the door at Leicester ahead of Friday’s 11pm transfer deadline and the club are exploring a number of options to lead the line, including Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.
Despite the financial woes that have resulted in an ongoing appeal against a breach of Premier League spending rules – as well as a likely second charge this season – the only sale Leicester have made this summer so far is that of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea for £30 million.
That could change in the remaining day or so of the transfer window, with Tom Cannon one player who could move on and Leicester could now capitalise on interest from Italy to sell another unwanted player.
AS Roma consider Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumare as Manu Lone alternative
When Leicester paid Lille £17 million to sign Boubakary Soumare in 2021 it was a transfer widely viewed as a real coup.
Soumare was considered one of the biggest talents coming out of Ligue 1 at the time and Leicester beat a host of clubs to the midfielder’s signature.
It has not worked out at the King Power, though, and any hopes of a reprieve under Cooper have quickly dissipated.
An exit looks to be the best solution for all parties and that could now happen as AS Roma consider the 25-year-old as an alternative to their primary target Manu Kone; previously a target for Arsenal.
That is according to Get Football News Italy, who report that Roma face competition from AC Milan to sign Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach.
If a deal cannot be struck then it is claimed Roma ‘will shift their focus on Boubakary Soumare of Leicester City, a central midfielder coach Daniele De Rossi is fond on as the capital club have been monitoring his situation throughout the summer market.’
Leicester City will be keen to shift Soumare before transfer deadline
Soumare spent last season on loan at Sevilla as Leicester won the Championship without him.
Cooper did hand the former French youth international minutes in pre-season and he came off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham to start the season but was an unused substitute in the Fulham defeat.
Perhaps most tellingly was Soumare’s absence from the squad for Leicester’s 4-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night in a game that could have been used to give him an opportunity.
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Cooper will hope Leicester can agree a deal to move Soumare on permanently before the transfer window closes so that all parties can move on from a failed spell in the East Midlands.