According to a recent report by Football.London, Manchester United will face competition from Arsenal in pursuit of Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina during this summer transfer period. The same source has revealed that the Saints have left the Gabonese talent out of their pre-season squad which could pave the way for him to make a switch away from the St. Mary’s Stadium with the Red Devils and the Gunners eager to snap him up in this off-season.
Even though Lemina is rated at £15m, Football.London has also claimed that the South-coast club are looking to recoup the money (£18m) they paid to Juventus for the 25-year-old in the summer of 2017.
Lemina’s Frustrations At Southampton Last Season
Lemina has shown flashes of his brilliance, but fitness concerns have hampered his time in England. Even when he is fit and available for selection, the Saints had used him sporadically in the previous campaign.
The Gabonese international has made a total of 46 matches in the Premier League, scoring two goals while grabbing two assists. He is also a 15-time Gabon international and has registered two goals for his nation so far.
What Are The Saints Midfielder’s Strengths And Weaknesses?
Lemina is versatile enough to feature in multiple positions across the field. He primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but is equally comfortable when being deployed at the right-back position. He has decent pace which allows him to complete some lung-bursting dribbles from midfield. The Gabon midfielder is also an accurate passer of the ball but lacks the physical strength to be a dominating presence at the centre of the park.
Lemina’s Acquisition: Good Move For Man United?
The ex-Juve prospect’s addition will bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield options at Old Trafford. However, the jury is still out on whether he would be able to put in a consistent run of performances in the English top-flight.
If the Man United boss is looking to improve his squad depth, then it makes sense to recruit Lemina. Otherwise, the Red Devils are better off opting for other proven talents as the 25-year-old does not have the track record of securing a regular starting berth in Solskjaer’s first XI.
