Who is Mario Lemina, the Juventus midfielder linked with a shock switch to West Ham?

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Surprise reports coming from France this morning have alleged that young Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina could be on his way out of Italy this summer, with both West Ham and Everton interested.

The 23-year-old Frenchman is believed to be growing frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities on offer in Italy, having to compete with the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio.

And, although his Juventus contract doesn’t run out for another three years, with the Old Lady hesitant to let him leave, it is reported by French outlet Footmercato that a move could potentially be sanctioned.

Would Lemina bring much needed flair to the London Stadium?

Since his arrival at Juventus in the summer of 2015 – arriving from French outfit Marseille on an initial season-long loan – he has always had a foot in the door but struggled to make that final step into the side.

The fact alone that Juventus turned his initial loan deal into a permanent move highlights the potential that Lemina has, and it is now just a case of finding a team – if not Juve – that can bring this out of him.

Versatile by nature, the 23-year-old has been prominently used as a central midfielder during his time at Juventus but he is more than adept at filling in as a right-winger, or as a right-back for that matter.

His firm physique and tall stature means that he is a strong player both on and off the ball, making him an extremely efficient box-to-box midfield option as it enables him to ease away from challenges.

He is not half bad defensively either, with his physicality able to retrieve possession well inside his own half and – with his smart vision and matched execution – he can set a counter off in the blink of an eye.

In the fast-paced, hectic nature of the Premier League there is also a calmness to his football that Lemina possesses that could hugely benefit West Ham, especially after their disappointing Premier League campaign last year; but there are huge doubts over whether it is the right place for him to develop.

Lemina has all of the raw characteristics needed to become a world-class midfielder, with time firmly on his side at just 23 years of age, but a move away from the Italian giants could turn into career suicide.