Exclusive: Lorient Hold Out for £5m as Blackburn and Celtic Eye Striker Sambou Soumano

Lorient will not budge in their valuation of sought-after striker Sambou Soumano, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Senegalese striker scored 14 times as the French club won Ligue 2 last season. 

And that has prompted a number of clubs to chase the highly-rated 24-year-old.

SportsBoom sources understand there could be as many as eight clubs vying for the player's signature.

Our sources have also been told Blackburn Rovers have seen a £2million bid, plus add-ons, rejected by the club in recent days.

Rovers’ boss Valerian Ismael wants to bring in two strikers with deadline day looming large and is preparing an improved bid for the player. 

It is understood Lorient value the striker at around £5million, with no bids coming close to that valuation so far. 

Rovers’ representatives saw Soumano net the first in a 4-0 demolition of Rennes at the weekend. 

It is also understood Lorient want the majority of the fee for the player up front, rather than being tied up in performance-related add-ons.

But the club may need to lower their asking price or risk losing the player for free next summer with suitors far away from Lorient’s price tag. 

Hot Property

A number of clubs were impressed by the player during a pre-season game with Championship side Swansea earlier this summer. 

The Swans are also interested in the player, but are chasing other targets as a priority, with Celtic’s Adam Idah top of their shopping list.

Scottish giants Celtic are also in the race for Soumano. 

It is understood Polish club Widow Lodz have been rebuffed in their £1.5million approach with officials discussing the possibility of a second bid.

Soumano is the number one target for Azerbaijan club Qarabag FK, who boast the additional lure of Champions League football.