Mario Lemina can take his game to the next level at Everton amid links

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One week remains until the summer transfer window shuts, but who will Everton sign before the deadline?

Two years after joining Southampton from Juventus, Mario Lemina could be heading out of St Mary’s this summer, with Everton seemingly keen on his services.

Sky Sports are reporting that Everton have targetted Lemina as a possible replacement for the now-departed Idrissa Gueye, with the Saints player free to talk to other clubs.

Southampton have always had a seriously strong academy system, and with it, they have also proven to have a seriously good recruitment system.

In 2017, when Lemina arrived on the South Coast from Serie A champions Juventus for £18 million [Guardian], he was supposed to be another gem walking through the doors of St Mary’s. And whilst he has delivered the goods for the club, he hasn’t done it on a consistent enough basis and they are now seemingly happy to part ways with him.

What is Southampton’s loss, should be seen as Everton’s gain because in the long run, he could prove to be a quite incredible purchase.

At this moment, replacing a consistent and reliable performer in Gueye for someone like Lemina is risky, but under Marco Silva, he can thrive and take his game to the next level.

Plus, compared with Gueye, he can provide some attacking intent from the middle of the park, which in a gruelling and difficult Premier League season is always helpful.

There’s no doubt that the Toffees should push for Lemina’s signature, but considering that Southampton don’t want him, they aren’t exactly going to fork out for a big fee.