Monaco 'make offer' for Leicester City midfielder as other clubs circle

AS Monaco have "made an offer" for Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumare, according to a report in France.

The 23-year-old joined Leicester from French side Lille last season off the back of picking up a Ligue 1 winner's medal. He struggled to adapt to some physical elements of the English game, though, and is one of several players likely to depart the King Power Stadium before the transfer window closes.

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Monaco have made an offer of €15million (£12.7m) for Soumare, including bonuses, but it appears there is a bit more work to do yet to get a deal over the line. Leicester are said to "expect at least 20" (£17m).

AS Monaco are expected to make a new offer, it is said, but it is unclear whether that will meet Leicester's asking price. The two clubs have done business before, of course, with Leicester loaning and later buying Youri Tielemans from the Ligue 1 giants back in 2019.

Other clubs are interested in signing Soumare after just one year in the Premier League, but AS Monaco seem to be leading the race for his signature. It is understood that recent reports suggesting Soumare was at the Monaco training ground were incorrect.

Previous speculation has suggested Monaco were interested in taking Soumare on loan, but it now appears they are keen to make a permanent move. Leicester will be looking to move more midfielders on, with Youri Tielemans, Dennis Praet and Hamza Choudhury most likely to leave.

Speaking after City lost to Tottenham in April, Brendan Rodgers said of Soumare: “We need more from him. This year has been tough for him and he will admit that himself.

"You see in moments when he makes those bursts and goes forward, he looks a good player, but it’s that other