Controversially dubbed ‘Paul Pogba without the baggage’ by Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol back in January, LOSC Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare is reportedly attracting a lot of interest from around Europe with the likes AC Milan, Napoli and Inter Milan all looking to secure his signature this summer.
Ligue 1’s premature ending due to the coronavirus pandemic is believed to have placed some financial constraints on Lille, and they may be forced this summer to sell their best stars to raise cash. Soumare was subject to much interest in the January window, and would have joined Newcastle had he not chosen to remain at the Stade Pierre Mauroy for the rest of the campaign.
It was indeed a campaign to forget, with the midfielder losing his place in the team, only featuring in a handful of games before the seasons cancellation.
Soumare will most likely become subject of much bids and interest during the rest of the window, with Lille determined to offload him.
This scout report will provide a brief report of his emergence on the scene, his progress at Lille and what he could offer potential employers.
Who is Boubakary Soumare?
Born in the northern suburbs of Paris, Soumare joined the Paris Saint-Germain academy at the age of 12-years-old, showing such incredible in a box-to-box role in midfield.
However, due to a lack of opportunities at the French giants, he decided to further his development elsewhere, at LOSC Lille, joining them in 2017. It is a decision that Soumare can look back with much pride. This campaign has been his steady breakthrough, putting in some scintilating performances from midfield both in Ligue 1 and Champions League. In fact, Soumare has emerged as a key component in Lille’s rise to prominence over the past couple years.
After his failed move in January, he’s only played just once since then, though his quality has been there for all to see even before the January window. His drop in form and game time certainly won’t stop clubs circulating for his signature in the near future. It’s no fluke that the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are all wanting to secure his services.
So why is Soumare attracting so much interest? What’s his style?
If you need any examples or exhibitions on what constitutes a ‘box-to-box midfielder’ then Boubakary Soumare is indeed the man to give you the knowledge needed. Soumare is a dominant, powerful, pacey and tricky midfielder to deal with because of his non-stop running, energy and hard work.
With a surprising yard of pace, Soumare’s 6’2 frame means he’s able to escape aggressive pressure with ease and also allows him the ability to dribble up the pitch to relieve his team of attacking pressure or to inspirationally drive up the pitch in search of a goal. It’s no surprise he’s been compared to Paul Pogba and Yaya Toure, due to his lean frame, and abilities on the ball. In the Champions League last season, he successfully completed 2.41 dribbles per 90 minutes, whereas in Ligue 1, he completed 1.41 dribbles.
When Soumare’s in space to instigate play after breaking free from pressure, he’s very able to utilise his incredible awareness to distribute the ball accurately to his team-mates who are in dangerous positions in the attacking third. It’s why he became so integral to most of Lille’s attacking play. He’s made 1.56 passes that leads to shots per90 in Ligue 1, 1.90 in the Champions League.
In terms of positioning, Soumare almost exclusively lined up as a defensive midfielder for most of last season. One who is well-versed in breaking up play, screening in front of the back four and also consumately distributing to players in more dangerous positions. Boubakary Soumare offers all those characteristics. He averaged 0.6 key passes per game in Ligue 1 largely down to his deep-positioning but in all fairness to him, he’s required to be more disciplined and risk-free in his passing, attempting 57.4 per game and his success rate in this area is very impressive, which reads at 89.8%.
He also averaged 1.9 long balls per game which means he’s not shy of attempting to find his teammates with a raking pass. Soumare also attempted 14.5 final third passes, so even though, he’s required to be disciplined with his distribution, he’s still attempting to become effective when building attacks.
In terms of breaking up play, as he’s required to do, he won 1.26 tackles per 90 in Ligue 1 and 1.72 in Europe. His tall-frame as stated previous, means he’s able to dominant his opponents, and also pressure them in order to win the ball back quickly. Per90 in Ligue 1, he successfully applied pressure 17.3 times which he successfully retrieves the ball 5.33 times per90. It’s stats such as these that allows him to fulfil a number of roles in the Lille midfield. Whether its a box-to-box role, deep-lying playmaker, a roaming playmaker or a ball-winning midfielder. He’s incredibly adept – in the right conditions of course – to become so efficient both in the attack and defence.
Boubakary Soumare is a ball-recovery machine, hoovering up attacks, starting attacks with his swift and direct passing or duelling an opponent for the ball. He won possession 4.9 times in the middle third, per90 in Ligue 1. Though, his stand-out performance this season, came against Chelsea in the Champions League game in December. He was an absolute nuisance, a dominant presence, recovering the ball an astonishing 16 times.
Could he make a name for himself in the English top-flight?
Without a shadow of a doubt. Boubakary Soumare certainly holds all the characteristics and tools to thrive in the Premier League. In an era, where box-to-box midfielders are pivotal to most elite teams in Europe, Soumare’s tall and lean build allows him to thrive in such conditions.
Midfielders are required to be not only dominant in possession but also combative when breaking up play and winning the ball-back quickly, Soumare exhibits all those traits. However, he’s the sort of player who needs the players around him to complement his abilities, he can’t do everything himself, Soumare isn’t that type of player. He’s incredibly effective in a well-oiled machine, as he’s constantly shown in the past year or so in a Lille team that is improving with every passing year.
The midfielder needs to get back to his best football, and its clear Lille do not want to keep him any longer.
Soumare is a player who would provide incredible solidity and a lot of mettle to a midfield, that’s why such elite clubs in Europe are after him. He’s not just a top box-to-box player, but holds all the makings to join an elite group of defensive midfielders in Europe too.
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