Chelsea have been linked with a move for Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare, with some reports even claiming Chelsea see him as a replacement for N’Golo Kante, should he leave for Real Madrid.
Soumare has responded to Chelsea’s interest in signing him by insisting he isn’t interested in leaving Lille in January. Soumare told L’Equipe: “It has not worried me. Reporting matters to the people who read it and the people who write it.
“I do not see myself leaving. I feel good here. I am learning, we have big objectives to attain, like qualification for the Champions League. A departure is not on the cards.
“I want to do a full season, yes. I am not saying that I am in the starting XI, but the place that I have in the team today, I worked hard to get through the work that I put in, I won it. I cannot see myself leaving without seeing this through.
“I feel good, my team-mates help me. It is not the time to leave. I do not want to leave with any regrets.” Asked whether he’s made his intentions clear to Lille, he replied: “Yes, of course.
“I have already had discussions with the coach. I told him very clearly.
“I have a very precise idea of where I want to go in my career. “I know today where I am and I like being here.”