Newcastle United are close to signing Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina. Lemina spent last season on loan at Fulham, who were unfortunately relegated from the Premier League.
As per The Northern Echo, Southampton demanded a fee of £8 million, but the Magpies wanted to pay a fee of around £4 million. The report claims that a “compromise” has been made between the two clubs and Lemina could be a Newcastle player soon. The Saints reportedly wanted Isaac Hayden in the deal, but the Magpies are unwilling to let him leave.
Mario Lemina joined Southampton for a fee of £15.4 million from Juventus, but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. He has spent the last two seasons away on loan and doesn’t seem to be in manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans. The Gabon international has just a year remaining on his current deal at Southampton.
Mario Lemina: A good midfield option for Bruce?
Mario Lemina is a talented operator who possesses good technical ability, strength, and decent work-rate as well. The 27-year-old is capable of playing as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder, and can be used as a player who controls the tempo of the game with his passing, or as a box-to-box midfielder.
He has a wide range of passes, be it long or short, while also possessing the strength to hold off opponents. Lemina likes to dribble with the ball from midfield and push his team forward as well. He is a versatile player who has been used in multiple positions, and has played at the back too, as a right-back or even as a centre-back.
Mario Lemina also shows tenacity without the ball and likes to tackle, but he can at times be reckless as well. He is a combative figure in the middle of the park who averaged 2.2 tackles per game last season. The Gabon international could be a decent addition to Steve Bruce’s side. The Magpies need more players in the middle of the park as they currently lack options and quality as well.
Isaac Hayden is perhaps one of their best midfielders, while Jonjo Shelvey can blow hot and cold through the season. Sean Longstaff is another option for Bruce, but he isn’t a great tackler and works well alongside a combative player. His brother Matty Longstaff seems to be set for a loan spell away from St. James’ Park.
Lemina could play alongside Hayden in a two-man pivot in midfield, which will allow Bruce to include more attacking players like Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Ryan Fraser in the lineup.
Lemina would offer versatility, tenacity, and some creativity from midfield and is a signing who should be welcomed by the fans at St James’ Park.
