Arsenal reportedly ready to battle with Manchester United over Mario Lemina

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Arsenal and Manchester United are set for a transfer tussle over wantaway Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina, according to the Evening Standard.

They report that both Europa League clubs are keen to upgrade their midfield options and have spotted an opportunity after Lemina was left out of the Saints’ pre-season tour of Austria.

Spotrac claim that Lemina earns £65,000 per week at St Mary’s, having joined Southampton from Juventus back in 2017 for a reported £18.1 million (BBC).

Those numbers should not put Arsenal off, despite their limited budget, and the Daily Mirror quoted Lemina recently as being very open to leaving the south coast this summer.

Lemina said: “I do not rule out the possibility of seeing something else. The last four months have not been easy for me, with my injury. I want to start afresh. So why not leave? We have very good discussions with the club. We are in agreement. If I don’t feel good in this project, I can leave.”

The powerhouse midfielder has great ability, but his attitude and consistency have let him down for much of his Southampton career.

Do Arsenal really want to be trying to revive the careers of players Southampton don’t want? It may not appeal to the fans.

That said, Ajax did exactly that with Dusan Tadic and polished up one of the most effective attacking midfielders in Europe last season, so Arsenal shouldn’t be put off necessarily.