Manchester United and Arsenal are battling out for Southampton’s Mario Lemina.
Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping an eye on Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina. The Gabonese International has undergone an injury-plagued season under Ralph Hasenhuttl, who is preparing to sell him this window.
An exit from the club looks the expected output after his failure to cut into the pre-season plans under Hasenhuttl. Lemina moved from Juventus to Southampton for a fee of 18 million in 2017, but he has was inconsistent until an abdominal injury hampered his season altogether.
The Saints roped in the former Leipzig manager when the midfielder was facing four-months sidelines with an injury. Even, without the midfielder, the 51-year-old managed to muster out results preventing his side from relegation, which looked the least possibility before his arrival.
Lemina’s situation has alerted Manchester United, Arsenal, Leicester City, and Atalanta, who are willing to bring him back to Italy, says Daily Mail. With three years left in his contract, Hasenhuttl is hoping to recoup the amount the Saints paid to Juventus two years ago.
And Lemina admitted at the weekend he is ready to quit the club, saying: “I still have another three years of the contract. But it is true that I do not rule out the possibility of seeing something else.
“The last four months have not been easy for me, with my injury. The coach put his team together. I want to start afresh. So why not leave?
‘We have very good discussions with the club. We are in agreement. If I don’t feel good in this project, I can leave.
‘They are giving me the opportunity to be able to go elsewhere.’
Striker Charlie Austin is the other player to face axe from Ralph Hasenhuttl’s pre-season plans.
Here’s how Twitter has reacted..
What’s next?
Mario Lemina looks likely to leave the club, although it is unsure about the concrete interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.
