Revealed! The extraordinary details of Newcastle United's failed January bid for Boubakary Soumare

Lille's French midfielder Boubakary Soumare kneels following a red card during the French L1 football match between Amiens and Lille (LOSC) on August 17, 2019 at the Licorne stadium in Amiens. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

According to French outlet RMC, Newcastle had a £38million bid accepted by Lille for the player last week.

The deal was also thought to contain add ons of around £8.5million – taking a potential deal past the £40million paid for club record signing Joelinton in the summer.

But the midfielder, a French youth international, turned down the chance to sign, preferring to wait to 'join a top six Premier League club’.

On the deal, manager Steve Bruce revealed: “We had bid accepted which would have almost got to our transfer record, but the player wanted to stay where he was.”

Meanwhile, French football expert David Crossan has questioned the logic of United’s bid.

“Nothing Soumaré has done this season would justify the 40 million euro price tag,” he said.

“That’s been put on him because of undoubted potential.”