Late on Friday, it was reported that a number of Premier League clubs were fighting over Boubakary Soumaré, although Leicester City were the favourites to get him.
Among those teams were Everton, who have been after a new midfielder despite signing the likes of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucouré in the past year.
That’s why it isn’t surprising to see them included in a list of scouts published ahead of Lille-Lens on Friday, where they were joined by the likes of Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side haven’t been named in the race to sign the midfielder, but one player they have been linked with is RC Lens’ Loïc Badé, a young centre-back who has shown exactly why the Ligue 1 side have trusted him as much as they have this year.
Les scouts présents pour #RCLLOSC ce soir. Le recruteur d'Angers SCO présent. @SCO_1919
📸: @jmdhaussy pic.twitter.com/tIGDI9OkI8
— AS (@as_49191) May 7, 2021
The 21-year-old has been a rock at the back, playing a key role in the club’s great first season back in France’s top-tier (they are sixth), and it’s not really surprising to see Leeds keeping an eye on young French footballers after their recent success with Illan Meslier.
For those wondering, the man sent by the Elland Road club to watch the game was Gabriel Ruiz, while Everton dispatched Habib Bamogo.
So, based on previous reports, logic would suggest the Toffees were there to watch Soumaré, while Leeds were keeping an eye on Loïc Badé.
That being said, with plenty other players on display and Lille walking away with a 3-0 win, new names may have been jotted down.
