When Mario Lemina went to Turkey to join Galatasaray it was a one year loan with an agreed fee at the end of the deal, now the Istanbul club want to do business but not at that price.

Mario Lemina has done well at Galatasaray, but his season seems to be following it's usua pattern as it did at St Mary's and indeed elsewhere, a series of good performances, but interspersed with some less than impressive displays as well as the injury hit spells.

Galatasaray agreed an option to buy him at 16 million euros at the end of the season, they want the player, but not at that price.

Reports from Turkey say the club board are ready to start negotiating with Saints but their value of Lemina is half of the agreed price of 16 million with their their current financial status not being good it’s unlikely they will be able to offer the full value.

Media outlet Skorer report Galatasaray’s board are preparing for ‘tough bargaining’ with Southampton and they are likely to offer €8m to sign the 26 year old who has played 19 times in all competitions for the club.

Saints would obviously prefer Galatasaray to pay the agreed price, but I would suspect they would be prepared to negotiate on this one, Lemina was seen as a disruptive influence on the squad and they are keen to get shot of the player who is on a lucrative salary.

Whether Lemina would even be prepared to take a much lower wage in Turkey is far from clear and if Galatasaray can't afford his transfer fee then his current wage level would be a problem and he has another two years of his contract at St Mary's left.

So there is plenty of room for negotiation and with transfermarkt stating his current value at 11 million euros that could be the sort of price Saints would accept to get rid of a player who due to his own behaviour seems to have never fulfilled his undoubted potential.

Photo: Action Images

TimSaint added 13:45 - Jan 27 Wasn't he supposed to have been signing for Man Utd, Arsenal, or some top Italian side, before he went to Turkey ? Surely one of those would be interested in him and at more than €11m ? I know it is all agent talk, trying to orchestrate a move for the player, but injuries and attitude aside, there is a good player in there somewhere. 2 months ago, when we looked doomed, I wasn't adverse to him returning to our starting XI.

3

sandywelsh added 14:11 - Jan 27 Galatasaray agreed an option to buy him at 16 million euros end of story. If they want him that's the price pay up or we have him back. We had the same option with Danny Ings and we paid the agreed price for him when he had been injured for much of the season.
1

the_saint added 14:28 - Jan 27 Sandy ours was an obligation to buy where theirs is not unfortunately
3

aceofthebase added 10:45 - Jan 28 Bring him back, RH can give him his motivational speech and then we can let him lose. The guy has skill and is a strong player and would be a good alternative in midfield. I have no knowledge of him being disruptive and his injuries are not much different than other players. Give him another chance to prove himself, but if he wants away then sell him quickly.
1

underweststand added 11:27 - Jan 28 Maybe he can't cut it with Saints but as long as he is on continually on loan to Gala, and (they seem to like him) but we shouldn't let him go for next to nothing. Of course - with hindsight- he was overpriced when we bought him. Bad deal that one Ross. Maybe the "threat" of bringing Lemina back to UK may jolt them into taking a second look.
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Swansea City Polls