Liverpool are interested in signing yet another player from Southampton, according to reports in France.
L’Equipe claim that Jurgen Klopp’s side are interested in taking Mario Lemina from their rivals. Lemina only joined Southampton from Juventus last summer, costing a club-record fee of £15.4m, after previously playing for Marseille and Lorient in France.
The Gabonese midfielder has made 19 appearances for the Saints this season, scoring once.
Lemina had reportedly attracted attention from Arsenal, but the report in France claims that the Gunners have dropped their interest, leaving Liverpool with a free run at the 24-year-old.
It’s unclear at the moment if Liverpool have a genuine interest in the player, as the transfer link between Liverpool and Southampton is a very easy one to make.
They could very well be in the market for another midfielder. Naby Keita will arrive from RB Leipzig in the summer, but Klopp may want reinforcements in midfield if Emre Can leaves. The German has yet to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the season, and he has been linked with a move to Juventus.
One name could catch you out here https://t.co/xRMrRaQUda
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Liverpool also pocketed £142m from the sale of Philippe Coutinho in January, leaving them with transfer funds – even if they spent £75m on signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. On Thursday, it was reported that the club had recorded a post-tax profit of £39m for 2017, after recording a loss of £21m for 2016.
Southampton might make Liverpool fork over a hefty chunk of that profit if they return for another player.
Lemina would be the ninth player Liverpool have signed from Southampton in the Premier League era. While you’re here, you may as well try name the rest.
