According to a recent report by RMC, Southampton midfield ace Mario Lemina is on the brink of sealing a move to AS Monaco during this summer transfer period. The Saints playmaker, who had been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this summer (via Sky Sports), is currently in advanced talks with Monaco over a potential move before the European transfer window slams shut on September 2nd.
This recent development will be a bitter pill to swallow for Nuno Espirito Santo as he is set to miss out on one of his summer transfer targets. Wolves would have benefitted from adding a bit more depth to their midfield primarily because of their involvement in the UEFA Europa League this season.
Lemina’s Frustrations At The South-coast Of England Last Season
Lemina has already shown a few glimpses of brilliance during the 2018-19 Premier League campaign. However, he has struggled to stay match-fit since making a switch to the St. Mary’s Stadium in the summer of 2017. The Gabon international was sporadically used by the Saints last season even when he was fit and ready for first-team selection. Hence, a move away from England could benefit the player this summer as he tries to get his career back on track in European football.
The 25-year-old has featured in 23 matches for the South-coast outfit in the previous term, scoring one goal while providing one assist across multiple competitions. Lemina has also secured 15 international caps for Gabon while finding the back of the net twice for his country so far. He is currently playing at his prime so Monaco could be acquiring a quality yet unreliable player if they can get the deal over the line this summer.
What Does The Saints Midfield Enforcer Offer On The Field?
The Gabonese talent is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also fill in as a right-back if required. Lemina has decent pace and can cover a lot of ground for his team at the centre of the park. He is also an accurate distributor of the ball and can orchestrate some decent chances for his teammates in the final third.
However, the Southampton prospect does not have the physical strength to succeed in the English top-flight and needs to find more consistency with his performances on the pitch. Furthermore, his poor track record with injuries in recent seasons make him a liability for any of his potential suitors.
Why Missing Out On Lemina Could Be A Blessing In Disguise For Wolves
Thus, Wolves shouldn’t mind missing out on him this summer as it would have been a considerable gamble for Nuno Espirito Santo to put his faith on the injury-prone Gabonese talent. Lemina’s move to AS Monaco could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the West Midlands outfit. They seem to have dodged a bullet by missing out on an injury-prone player like Lemina and Wolves would be better off investing more on proven players at the highest level.
