PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Mario Lemina - Gabon star tipped to leave Southampton for Liverpool

Mario Lemina, Southampton

Tuesday Jan 23, 2018. 16:00

The 24-year-old central midfielder is slowly establishing himself as one of English Premier League side Southampton’s key players.

Lemina played an instrumental role in helping the Saints hold high-flying Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw a league game which was played at the St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.

The Gabon international joined Southampton from Italian Serie A giants Juventus on a five-year deal for a club record fee of £15.4millon last August.
"It was quite a big fee for us to pay but it has been a good start for him," Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier told Sky Sports at the time.

"He was outstanding in the win against Crystal Palace and quality against Manchester United too.

Southampton have sold players such Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk to fellow English side Liverpool FC in recent years.

Le Tissier, who made over 400 appearances for Southampton, believes that Liverpool could make a move for Lemina in the future if he continues to flourish in England.
“If he keeps putting in performances like that against the top sides then no doubt Liverpool will come calling,” he continued.
"He has not got a great goalscoring record and I do not see him as somebody who is going to get us the eight or nine goals we need from midfield, but he is good at breaking up play and picking a pass.

“He is forming a very solid partnership with Oriol Romeu and if we want to keep moving forward, these are the sort of players that we need."

Lemina has made 17 appearances in the league for Southampton this season.