Wolves are interested in signing Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina, according to Sky Sports.
The Gabon international is understood to be one of a number of names on Nuno Espirito Santo’s shortlist as he looks to bring in cover in the centre of the park ahead of his side’s foray into Europe.
The Saints have given the £65,000-a-week ace [Spotrac] permission to speak to other clubs this summer, and he has been the subject of an inquiry from Manchester United.
TiF Tactics – What would Lemina offer Wolves?
Outside of the top six, Wolves probably have the Premier League’s most impressive central midfield partnership in Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho. The Portuguese pair are classy and accomplished, and the balance they offer at the heart of the side would be hard to match.
For that reason, Lemina would probably be viewed as more of a covering option than anything else.
A quick comparison justifies this role too. Looking at the Gabon international’s passing stats compared to those of Neves, for example, it’s easy to see the difference in class.
Lemina outstrips Neves in his passing accuracy, wracking up an impressive 86% for last season [Whoscored], but in every other category, it is Neves who comes out on top.
Similarly, the 25-year-old doesn’t offer much of an improvement in a defensive sense either.
The gap between the two players is less noticeable in this area, but even then, Neves outstrips his rival on interceptions, blocks, and fouls committed [Whoscored].
In short, Lemina would be a decent covering option, but nothing more.
Likely to happen?
The fact that Lemina has been given permission to speak to other clubs is probably a good thing in terms of some kind of move happening, but whether he ends up at Wolves is a different matter entirely.
For one thing, it would seem that the midfielder is one of several names being looked at by Wanderers, and is hardly their main priority at this stage.
Throw into the mix reported interest from Manchester United, and this could become a fairly expensive bidding war for a player that Wolves only really seem half interested in.
More pertinently still, this doesn’t feel like a Wolves move.
Why pay over the odds for a Premier League player when you can go out and find somebody just as effective for half the price on the continent?
Don’t hold your breath on this one.