According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are only willing to offer around £5million to sign Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina.
The Magpies need to find reinforcements for Steve Bruce’s squad this summer, but won’t have a huge budget to do so.
Another midfielder appears to be wanted, and Lemina is thought to be a key target for Bruce and co.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Lemina
Steve Nickson is driving Newcastle’s interest in Lemina according to The Chronicle, but Newcastle aren’t prepared to splash the cash.
It’s thought that Newcastle will only offer £5million for Lemina – a player Southampton paid £18million for in 2017, meaning the Saints would have to take a £13million loss.
With just a year left on his deal though, that’s the kind of fee Southampton may have to take – and Newcastle are seemingly using the situation to their benefit.
What has been said about Lemina?
Once compared to Paul Pogba, Lemina showed promise at Juventus but hasn’t really kicked on at Southampton, spending last season on loan at Fulham.
Marcelo Bielsa coached Lemina at Marseille, and branded him ‘different’ because of his ability to attack and defend, representing a real box-to-box player.
Pundit Garth Crooks was hugely impressed in Lemina’s first season at Southampton, branding him a ‘powerhouse’ whilst wondering why Arsenal or Liverpool didn’t sign him.
It’s now Newcastle looking to land Lemina, and they will hope to get the Gabon star back on track after a mixed couple of years.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
