Nice will decide whether or not to sell Mario Lemina today with Wolves offering the former Southampton and Fulham midfielder a four-year deal in the Premier League, according to French publication L’Equipe.
Unlike the out-of-favour Morgan Schneiderlin, Mario Lemina was not a player Nice had plans to cash in on heading into the winter window.
But with talks over a contract extension hitting the buffers, the chance to earn a £10 million windfall via a man who will turn 30 in less than 12 months’ time certainly makes sound financial sense.
Nice, L’Equipe say, will now hold a meeting on Thursday regarding Lemina’s sale. A decision could be made imminently.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are offering a fee of around £10 million for the 29-year-old Gabon international. Julen Lopetegui’s side, who lost on penalties to Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, saw two earlier approaches rejected by Nice but are now doubling their bid from an initial £5 million.
L’Equipe adds that Lemina could secure a four-year deal at Molineux. Should he accept, that could keep the one-time Champions League runner-up in England until the age of 33.
Wolves close in on former Premier League midfielder Mario Lemina
Nice hammered Montpellier 6-1 in Ligue 1 on Wednesday night; Nicolas Pepe and Ross Barkley scoring two goals apiece. Lemina came off the bench due to an injury to Hicham Boudaoui. Time will tell if that is his final appearance for The Eagles.
Lemina has played under the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Max Allegri during spells at Marseille and Juventus. It is likely that, at Wolves, he will step in for the injured Boubacar Traore; his energy and intensity ensuring the experienced ball-player could perform a Leander Dendoncker-like role in Old Gold.
Wolves have already completed one January signing. Matheus Cunha arrived from Atletico Madrid, and has made a positive impact in a series of cameo appearances. Talks to sign his former Wanda Metrpolitano team-mate Felipe are underway. Bristol City youngster Alex Scott is another name on Lopetegui’s radar.
“I wouldn’t accept £12m,” Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson says of Scott. “But I don’t know what figure the club are thinking of.
“If we get offers that the club feel are reasonable, then the club will accept it. We want to keep our best players. But we don’t want players who aren’t keen on staying here either.”
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