Liverpool could sign £22M-rated French star with high potential for 'peanuts' - the solution to midfield crisis?

Liverpool could solve their midfield issues by moving for Leicester City's £22M rated midfielder who could sign for 'absolute peanuts'.

The Reds are currently struggling with an injury crisis which has hit them hardest in the centre of the pitch.

With less than 10 days remaining in the window, the Reds need to move quickly in order to secure someone to come and play in their midfield right away.

The latest reports suggest they could move for one of Leicester's fringe midfielders in Boubakary Soumare - who is still only 23 and still has bags of potential.

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Latest reports on Soumare

With the Reds needing someone soon, the French midfielder could be a perfect signing given he isn't a regular starter at Leicester and could be available relatively cheap.

A report from Ryan Taylor at the Daily Express claims that they could sign the player for 'absolute peanuts' which I'm sure would please the higher-ups at Liverpool.

He writes: "If Liverpool were bold enough to make their move, they could help [Boubakary] Soumare fulfil his potential for virtually peanuts.

"He is still only 23 and would represent a respectable addition both for the present and future, while keeping finances in check."

He had been initially linked with Liverpool and other top clubs before signing with the Foxes but he certainly hasn't kicked on as he would have liked in a Leicester shirt.

The Frenchman is worth £22.5M and his £99k-a-week contract expires in 2026.

The club has struggled since he joined as their two or three years of challenging for the top four seem to have diminished and they are currently winless at the start of the current season.

He was also linked with a move to Crystal Palace and it's clear he is free to leave the club.

Would he work at Liverpool?

The Reds would be getting a Ligue 1 champion as Soumare was part of the Lille team that ended Paris Saint-Germain's dominance in France (if only for a year) and his performances at the heart of their midfield caught the eye of many a top side.

He started 21 games in that title-winning campaign however, since moving to Leicester, there's been a drop-off with his stats a sorry showing with only dribbles completed and aerials won per 90 standing out here.

Whilst at Lille, he was never a constant on the ball (had the 11th most touches of the ball per 90 minutes of LOSC players) and he only averaged 28 passes per 90 last season for the Foxes with an 82% success rate.

He is seen more as a 'combative defensive anchor'.

With 2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, he is a defensive force and is more in the mould of a Moises Caicedo than Leandro Paredes for example and his powerful midfield presence could help give Liverpool that extra steel in midfield, as part of a two or three-man midfield.