Manchester United in talks with Mario Lemina - reports

Manchester United are reportedly negotiating for the signature of Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina.

Lemina joined Southampton a couple of years ago from Juventus, and is available for around £18 million. The 25-year-old midfielder has asked Southampton for permission to leave the club and has been left out of their squad for their pre-season tour.

The Times reports that United have been given permission to start talks with the Gabonese international despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and other club officials being away on their own pre-season tour, with the first leg in Australia.

United are in the market for at least one midfielder this summer. Nemanja Matic has been linked with a move away to both Milan clubs, and Ander Herrera has left on a free transfer for Paris Saint-Germain. That leaves Andreas Pereira and Scott McTominay, as well as Fred, to support the barely present Paul Pogba, assuming he actually deigns to stay at the club.

Lemina has talent, but there are problems. He has only played 49 games in two seasons on the south coast because of injuries, so unless United somehow make a player less injury prone after buying him, then there is every chance he could continue to be unreliable.

However, for just £18 million, the club would be getting a player who is yet to hit his prime, and who has adjusted reasonably well to life in the Premier League. He might not be a great signing, but a perfectly adequate one if Ed Woodward can knuckle down and sort the rest of the squad out. Ah.