Leicester City are closing in on former Newcastle target Boubakary Soumare. The Lille midfielder is expected to complete a £18m move to the King Power stadium once the window opens. It was just 18 months ago that the now 22-year-old turned down Newcastle after a bid of over £30m had been accepted.
If The Foxes get their man, that could spell the end for their Academy product, Hamza Choudhury. The 23-year-old was Steve Bruce’s top target during the winter window. However, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers kept the tough-tackling midfielder behind despite him not featuring much for the first half of the season.
Choudhury’s appearances increased in February and early March making three starts over a six-match stretch. He had only made one league start previously. However, the appearances dried up in April and May as the former England U21 international played just 18 minutes in the campaign’s final two months.
Much like Josh King has resurfaced as a target now that he’s available, Choudhury’s uncertain future at Leicester has him linked to Newcastle once again. Football Insider is reporting that Bruce has already spoken to Choudhury about coming to Newcastle.
Choudhury is under contract until 2023 so would cost a significant fee for a permanent move. Bruce could be looking at a season-long loan move with limited funds to work with this summer. However, he could again be left frustrated as Leicester may be hesitant to make a quick decision.
Leicester have lost a star player to one of the big boys in each of the past five seasons (N’Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell). That could continue this year with midfielder Youri Tielemans being tracked by Liverpool and Manchester United. Wilfred Ndidi has also been linked with a move recently.
While Leicester appear to be adding a midfielder in Soumare, they could spend much of the summer fending off interest in two of their midfield stars. So that could delay a decision on Hamza Choudhury’s future.
48 comments so far
JP...from The Rock
Jun 7, 2021 at 10:56 AM
Comment #1Choudhury no thanks we could do better. Give me Willock!!
JP...from The Rock
Jun 7, 2021 at 10:57 AM
Comment #2First wow it’s been a while I feel all giddy and proud of myself now lol
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 10:57 AM
Comment #3True Faith: Newcastle United Fanzine and Podcast
·
12m
Have a look at http://mybestxi.co.uk – they design and produce framed best 11s of your choice.
Makes a great gift and is a good way to remember that we used to have three of the best pl strikers ever on the pitch at the same time
@MybestxiU
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E3RTtsyXoAIXL87?format=jpg&name=medium
Adamn_92
Jun 7, 2021 at 10:58 AM
Comment #4Simon
Thought the name rang a bell! I think a few posters here, myself included, wrote him off as it looked like just some random Chelsea fan on Twitter. Can’t remember exactly what he said but think it was along the lines of takeover imminent and obviously that didn’t happen. Still, I’d love to be made to eat my own words and be wrong 🙂
Yeah I think we can forgive doctors if they don’t always cross their t’s and dot their i’s haha
welshgeordie9
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:01 AM
Comment #5I’m sorry but if he’s one of our top targets, who else are we going to get, we need players much better than him.
Going to be another frustrating transfer window and season.
Adamn_92
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:04 AM
Comment #6welshgeordie9,
Don’t worry Bruce will make up for it by bring in Elmohamady probably
geordietom
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:13 AM
Comment #7Adam …
Bruce played for your hometown team …
1984–1987 Norwich City 141 Games,,,
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:15 AM
Comment #8Is he any better than Hendrick? Well actually he will put tackles in which is a step up from the Irish Ninja
Adamn_92
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:16 AM
Comment #9georditom
Please don’t remind me that he’s been down here…
geordietom
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:17 AM
Comment #10Adam …
just chucking it out there 😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:19 AM
Comment #11I just keep hoping that this is another of those rumours with no substance!
DrGloom
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:20 AM
Comment #12Don’t see any point in Choudhury unless as a direct replacement for either Hendrick or Hayden. Better than Hendrick but not as good as Hayden, we need a box to box mid such as Willock – surely even Bruce and co can see the difference he made and if they can’t get Willock to join should be looking at similar players in style.
geordietom
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:21 AM
Comment #13EGB …
snap …
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:21 AM
Comment #14LCBP
We’ve just let go better players than this guy or Hendrick!
I want to see Jack Scott getting games!
Wor B
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:32 AM
Comment #15Bill
Is Jack Scott from our Frankenstein’s monster squad?
A hybrid of Kyle Scott and Jack Young?
🙂
Davas28
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:32 AM
Comment #16Martoon. Appreciate all the effort doing the predictions. I obviously let my heart rule my head when I did mine (as I always do at the beginning of the season)
JohnJ
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:37 AM
Comment #17As I said on previous page.
Choudhury No Thanks!
Danny Rose No Thanks!
Over n out……
martoon
Jun 7, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #18Thanks everyone. I forgot to mention that once again the mean/mode averages were not that far away – this has been the case nearly every year. So maybe what we lack as individuals we make-up as a collective blog 😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:03 PM
Comment #19Wor B
Aye I got that wrong I meant Jack Young! 🙄
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:06 PM
Comment #20John
After his abysmal grossly overweight performances during his loan I’m surprised that signing Rose would even get as far as the rumour stage!
Ketsbaia9
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:15 PM
Comment #21Leicester City reject. Don’t want him. Worse than Shelvey/Willock.
Sign:
Willems – Free
Van Aanholt – Free
Gary Cahill – Free
Mario Lemina – £6m
Willock – Loan
Barkley – Loan
Aboukabar – Free
Josh King – Free
Shaqiri – Free
Marega – £7m
Ibrahima Sissoko – £9m
Janmaat – Free
Mbabu – £8m
Omar Colley – £6m
Job done.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:15 PM
Comment #22Wor B
Kyle Scott was one of the kids released! 🙁
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:18 PM
Comment #23Kets
Aye your correct it is simple!
Meanwhile back in the real world! 🙂
Bills Son Is Back
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:19 PM
Comment #24We lack a back up DM who can get stuck in if Hayden is injured so I’m not dismissing Choudhury as an option and would be decent as a loan signing.
We also need a Willock type mid who runs forward with the ball and weighs in with goals.
Both positions are priorities IMO along with a back up for Wilson.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:23 PM
Comment #25Darlow
Mbabu Colley Fernandez Willems
Sissoko
Shaqiri Barkley Saint-Maximin
Aboubakar Marega
Subs
Dubravka
Van Aanholt
Janmaat
Schar
Cahill
Lemina
Fraser
Almiron
Murphy
Willock
Wilson
Josh King
Good squad that.
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Comment #26Barkley over Willock??? 😆 you always seem to out do yourself Kets
lesh
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:29 PM
Comment #27Simon
Might yer man Savatov, knowing how pi$$ed off you are with the seeming endless takeover saga, have uttered words he knew you’d like to hear?
Ketsbaia9
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Comment #28£6m for Shaqiri actually. He should be our main target. Class player.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:31 PM
Comment #29Barkley’s a better player. Willock just had a great spell. Can alternate the two depending on performance.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:33 PM
Comment #30Could get 4 years out of Shaqiri. I’m sorry to say it, but he’s a better quality player than Almiron. Shaqiri is a threat going forward and can score and create. Just what we need. He’s better in the final third than Saint-Maximin too. Better shooting ability and can assist. A must signing.
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:34 PM
Comment #31Kets
I get a lot of shit for saying this but you and you’re opinion are wrong mate.
You can have that opinion but it probably only exists in you’re own head
lesh
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:34 PM
Comment #32It’s about time someone took and Charmless to one side and drill him into spelling Willock.
We’re hearing a lot about Choudhury – does Charmless think he could get away with signing him by mistake?
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Comment #33There’s no chance of signing Willock this early as he won’t of even had the conversation with Arteta yet.
July for incomings and would be surprised if it was before.
lesh
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:38 PM
Comment #34And with all this talk about Choudhury, has Bruceyboy forgotten that ASM has implicitly told him to sign Willock – a friend as well as a good player?
ASM wants to see ambition but Bruceyboy’s interested in Choudhury, while the likes of Aston Villa blow £35m today!
lesh
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:40 PM
Comment #35Mund
Other clubs have signed players and it’s early June.
There’s no reason why deals can’t be negotiated and confirmed early.
Aces-of-Eights
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:40 PM
Comment #36MBS meeting Raab is about G7 meeting I think for this weekend
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:41 PM
Comment #37Lesh
You are talking like this club is like all the others
Mund
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:42 PM
Comment #38Lesh, also take into consideration the window doesn’t open for another 23 days
Wor B
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:47 PM
Comment #39Last time I saw Shaqiri play at SJP he scored a cracking goal at the Leazes end. He picked up the ball on their right half way into our half and started a run towards goal.
I was shouting at our tracking player ‘keep him off his left foot’ when he cut inside and launched a pearler into the back of the net from outside the box!
anxer
Jun 7, 2021 at 12:50 PM
Comment #40Just out of interest, of people saying they’re against getting him, how many people have watched Choudhury play much, and how many are (like me) prejudiced against signing him because of his appalling challenge on Ritchie?
But he also scored an absolute snorter against us in that game, and just because he isn’t a first choice for Leicester doesn’t mean he wouldn’t walk into a team that had Hendrick for a starter for the first half of the year. Then again plenty of average players have had a blinder/scored a worldie/ended a bad run against us too and I’ve only really seen him play against us.
I rate Hayden highly but he’s injury prone and we desperately need cover for that position if we can’t improve on it. Obviously I’d want Willock above all other MF additions but wonder who people think we can realistically get to improve us, if the takeover doesn’t go through/get passed in time for us to target bigger signings?