A number of EFL clubs have been linked with a summer move for an out-of-contract striker that earned plaudits in the French top flight last season.
Sambou Soumano is set to be available on a free transfer this summer after opting to leave Ligue 1 side Lorient at the end of his contract.
According to a report from French publication Foot Mercato, Derby County and Charlton Athletic are currently leading the race to sign the 25-year-old this summer.
The report suggests the Championship has emerged as the most likely destination for Soumano, despite interest from France and Turkey.
He has spent the last five seasons with Les Merlus after joining the club from Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant in the summer of 2021.
After several loans, the Senegalese forward enjoyed a breakout season in 2024-25 following Lorient's relegation to the French second tier.
Lorient ultimately earned an immediate return to Ligue 1 as champions that year, and Soumano finished as the club's second top goalscorer behind only current Premier League star Eli Junior Kroupi.
Despite Kroupi's subsequent departure, Soumano struggled to hold down a first team place last season as Lorient managed an impressive 10th place finish on their return to the top flight.
However, despite being resigned to largely featuring from the bench, Soumano managed to contribute four goals and two assists from just 928 minutes of football in the league.
