Southampton are reportedly looking to sign the England international on loan, with West Ham United said to be looking at Mario Lemina.
Mario Lemina arrived at Southampton a year ago from Juventus with a bit of hype around him and, while he’s a talented player, he simply hasn’t proven reliable enough thus far.
Despite the doubts over him, the Gabon international is allegedly being targeted by West Ham United in case Pedro Obiang leaves the club for Sampdoria – a deal that the Express claims is close.
And Southampton might have an ideal replacement lined up should that all happen – with the Mirror suggesting that they’re looking to loan Chelsea’s Danny Drinkwater.
If Lemina wasn’t reliable enough, Drinkwater is the man to step up for the Saints – the England international has made it a staple of his game – showing incredible work rate and consistency with Leicester City.
Drinkwater has found his game time dramatically reduced since joining Chelsea – at a time when the club was struggling to find consistency itself – and he’d surely jump at the chance to get back to playing more regular football.
Southampton, who themselves need to find the consistency they lost last year, would find Drinkwater to be someone to build their midfield around.
And on a loan deal, what’s the risk? A player with experience at both ends of the Premier League and who Southampton have no obligation to keep if it doesn’t work out; at the very least, he would buy them another year to rebuild their midfield.
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