Lots of Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media to reports by the Chronicle, claiming the club are unlikely to make a second bid for LOSC Lille ace Boubakary Soumare.
The French sensation emerged as a potential target for the Toon on Deadline Day, when head coach Steve Bruce revealed that a near-club-record offer had been accepted only for the midfielder to turn us down.
Soumare was Bruce’s number one target during the winter market, feeling as if the Noisy-le-Sec-born star could arrive at St. James’ Park and serve as a dynamic and energetic option in the core of his side while having great potential to develop further.
Bruce and club chiefs even had a plane booked to fly out and meet the France U21 international to discuss a potential move, but wheels never left the ground as Soumare decided to stay at the Stade Pierre Mauroy for, at least, the remainder of the term.
Newcastle are now believed to be looking elsewhere for our summer spending options and are unlikely to move for Soumare again, with Bruce seemingly still intent on bolstering his midfield numbers.
Should Bruce try to sign Soumare again in the summer?
Yes
No
Reports had claimed that our proposed deal for Soumare could have cost €60million (£50.8m) if all potential add-ons were fulfilled, but the 20-year-old sought to remain in Ligue 1 for the remainder of the term to help Les Dogues in their quest for European football.
Soumare is also said to be coveting a potential summer switch from France to the Premier League, but has desires of joining runaway leaders Liverpool or the Reds’ bitter rivals Manchester United.
The young talent has earned plenty of admirers this season, having featured in 19 Ligue 1 games while averaging 1.5 successful tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.6 successful dribbles, 0.8 successful aerial duels and 0.9 key balls per 90 minutes, according to WhoScored data.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the Chronicle’s report, suggesting the Toon have scrapped plans of a second pursuit of Soumare…
If we’re not going for Soumare, the other lad is decent in that photo. Caqueret.
— James (@j_mitchell92) February 9, 2020
“Newcastle United are unlikely to revisit a bid for Lille midfielder Boubakaray Soumare this summer after the Frenchman turned down the chance to move to St James’ Park last month.”
Of course there’re not – they never expected Lille to accept the bid – all part of a game #nufc
— Michael Gallon (@MichaelGallon) February 9, 2020
Lille did accept though 🤣 the player didnt choose to come
— The Prototypes (@PrototypesDNB) February 9, 2020
Nothing to do with season tickets to be sold in the summer obviously… #NUFC
— Keith Anderson (@keitha1964) February 9, 2020
Bruce should have just kept quiet about it and life wud go on but they just making it out like as if the Fans are stupid. Worse that every media house covering #nufc gave the story unnecessary mileage
— bobby martins (@BobbyGoa) February 9, 2020
And the real reason he declined, he’d been shown video clip of training facilities, that made his mind up !
— Brianma78386562 (@Brianma78386561) February 9, 2020
It’s laughable they told everyone how they’d tried on transfer deadline day. Right when it was all too late, but with a nod to the fact there’s definitely going to be cash to spend this summer.
— NUFCThreatLevel (@NUFCThreatLevel) February 9, 2020
Cos it was a lie to make fans think we are relevent in the transfer market
— sid (@viz1234567) February 9, 2020
Newcastle United. A club that’ll go for Steve McClaren twice but a highly talented midfielder only once
— . (@MarkPent1988) February 9, 2020
He had already rejected moves from better clubs than us because he wants to finish this season in Ligue Un, it looks like the bid was purely to give the illusion of ambition as we knew for a fact we wouldn’t get him and that we wouldn’t actually have to spend any money
— Sam James (@samjdb2) February 9, 2020
He doesn’t want to play for us, we don’t need players like that at the club
— • (@JosephGibson_) February 9, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club are struggling to close a deal for a midfield wonderkid.