Manchester United have been given permission to speak to Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina.
This comes from the Times, who claim Arsenal have also made an enquiry about the possibility of signing the Gabonese international.
Lemina was left out of the Saints’ pre-season tour to Austria by manager Ralph Hassenhüttl and is desperate to leave St Mary’s this summer.
NEXT:Leicester City beat Man Utd to star they discussed as potential replacement for Pogba
“I want to start afresh so why not let me leave,” Lemina said this weekend as quoted by the Times.
The 25-year-old made just 18 Premier League starts last campaign, and it now looks clear that he will leave Southampton this summer.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs two midfielders this summer, following the departure of Ander Herrera and the uncertainty around Paul Pogba’s future.
Lemina would represent a cheaper option than the figures quoted for targets such as Newcastle youngster Sean Longstaff.
The Evening Standard claim that the Saints are looking to get the £18m back they signed Lemina for from Juventus.
This signing would add depth to Solskjaer’s options in midfield, but can Lemina really make a significant improvement to the United squad which is so desperately lacking in the centre of the park?
#SaintsFC signed Lemina from Juventus for €17m (£15.6m) in August 2017 – a fee that could have increased by a further €3m (£2.77m) in add-ons. The club will at least want to get their money back – & in this market should be aiming for more
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) July 9, 2019
