Lille manager Christophe Galtier has admitted there is “tension” between the club and star midfielder Boubakary Soumare amid transfer links to Manchester United and other clubs.
Soumare was heavily touted for a move in the January transfer window, with Galtier at one stage admitting he didn't know if the player would stay. Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle were also linked as well as United.
The 20-year-old has been one of the breakthrough stars of this season's Ligue 1, helping Lille to fourth place in the table after 25 games.
But after Soumare was surprisingly left out of the Lille squad that faced Marseille on Sunday, with Jean Emile Onana picked instead, Galtier addressed the situation.
“There is a situation at the club that I do not comment on," he told French newspaper L’Equipe .
“In seasons, there can be tension between a player and his club. We’ll settle this internally and find a solution.
“Under these conditions, I therefore decided to work on two other options this week [Cheikh Niasse and Onana].
“I found it interesting what Onana could do.”
United signed Bruno Fernandes as their marquee midfield addition in the January window, although they didn't sign anyone in the deeper midfield positions.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to target more reinforcements to his midfield in the summer, with Jack Grealish and James Maddison among the club's primary targets.
