Southampton have spent a club record fee on new signing Mario Lemina from Italian giants Juventus. The fee for the midfielder is reportedly around £18 million. The 23 year old has 9 caps for his home country Gabon and has scored twice in those games, but he isn’t renowned for his goal scoring ability.
Last season, Mario Lemina played 29 times for Juventus in all competitions, which includes a substitute appearance in the Champions League Final! The Gabonese plays in a defensive role in the midfield and will more than likely replace Northern Irishman, Steven Davis, who was granted an MBE for his contribution to football in the Summer.
Southampton Vice Chairman Les Reed said:
“Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career, winning a number of titles and gaining experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football”.
Fantasy Football Potential
Lemina, being a defensive midfielder will not be the first name on anyone’s team sheets but he could be a decent option as a 4th or 5th midfielder. His disciplinary record isn’t too bad for a defensive midfielder, as he received just 4 yellows last season, but goals don’t come at a premium for the Gabonese international.
Also, his 5.0m price tag may tempt a few FPL managers depending on how far forward he will play for Saints. His ownership will also be extremely low because the midfielder was released on FPL just 7 hours before the deadline so many may not have known he was on the game, which would make him a good differential.
Southampton’s opening fixtures are as follows; Swansea (H), West Ham (H), Huddersfield (A), Watford (H) and Crystal Palace (A). These fixtures are arguably 5 should wins for the Saints meaning Lemina could grab a decent amount of points in his first season in the Premier League.
If you have enjoyed this view of the fantasy potential of those moving teams this transfer window, be sure to check the others here.
Written by Harry Clark (@HarryClark67)
