The Saints have pulled off a real coup by landing Gabon international Mario Lemina from Serie A champions Juventus.
It’s hard to believe Phillip Billing is only 21 years of age. The giant of a Huddersfield Town midfielder has played like a seasoned veteran since breaking into the first team on a regular basis last season and, at 6ft 6ins, strides around the pitch with both purpose and self-confidence.
In many ways, the Danish Under-21 international, who arrived in Yorkshire from Esbjerg in 2013, epitomises the Huddersfield way – he’s young, hungry and embraces the notion of team-ethic.
No wonder, then, that The Sun (21st February, page 52) reported that Southampton were hoping to take Billing to the South Coast. After all, it is those three attributes that have helped some of the Premier League’s most promising young players flourish in the renowned St Mary’s finishing school.
By the time mid-August rolled around, however, Billing had committed his future to Huddersfield by inking a new three-year contract extension to take his current deal up to 2020. Since then, the club’s Young Player of the Year hasn’t looked out of place as The Terriers took to the Premier League like a duck to water.
Juve pulled off a coup
Fortunately for Southampton, however, they signed another young, snarling midfield enforcer instead. And club-record £18 million Gabon international Mario Lemina (The Guardian) already looks a cut above most in his position in England’s top flight.
Lemina, who featured in the Champions League final for Juventus just four months ago, has wasted no time in making an impact in England’s top flight, earning rave reviews following a dominant midfield performance in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.
The Man of the Match completed five tackles, three interceptions and 93 per cent of his passes and it seems only a matter of time until the Premier League’s bigger fish catch his scent.
Billing is a player with great potential but, in Lemina, The Saints have a player who could be the envy of the Premier League.
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