Highly rated Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare is holding out for an offer from one of Liverpool or Manchester United this summer, after rejecting a move to Newcastle in January. According to report, the Magpies submitted a substantial offer for Lille only for the player to reject the offer.

Magpies boss Steve Bruce admitted on deadline day that the club had come close to a transfer that would have broken the club’s £40m record – only for the player in question to knock back the move.

Newcastle are the only club thought to have had an approach accepted yet, but the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham have recently been in the headlines with regards to their interest, while United and Real Madrid were among those linked further back.

Valencia have also indicated an interest in the player according to reports from Spain. But the midfielder has chosen to stay with the French side, as he bids his time, while waiting for potential serious bids from top clubs around Europe. The move could come in the summer, and with France amongst the favourite accoring to the Euro 2021 outright odds, you can expect to see him make more of a name for him on the European stage, and possibly add a few million to his prospective price-tag.

According to the player’s representative sport Avenir, AC Milan have also indicated an interest in their client and all possible offers will be accessed before making a final decision. According to reports, Soumare is considered as the direct replacement for Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish international is expected to make a move to the Premier league at the end of the season.

According to French outlet ​Le10Sport, his desire to move to one of Liverpool or United was behind his decision to reject a move to Newcastle, whose offer they say was worth up to €60m (£50m) with all bonuses included.

While it’s unclear if either of the clubs in question are prepared to match the precedent set by the Magpies, it would certainly make for an interesting stand-off when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

AC Milan could perhaps have done with signing the inspirational playmaker in the January transfer window, as their most recent performances have been a little tepid, and lacking in creativity in the final third. With the Serie A table as competitive as it has ever been in recent year, it’s a real shame that the Rossoneri are missing the X-factor that could have taken them to another Scudetto.