Newcastle have been tracking Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina over the past few months. He was cited as a summer target in April when The Guardian claimed Newcastle were watching whether his loan with Fulham would turn into a permanent move.
Fulham couldn’t beat the drop and the Gabon international will return to St Mary’s with a cloud hanging over his future. Lemina has just one year left on his contract and has spent the last two seasons out on loan. It’s expected Saints coach Ralph Hasenhuttl will be keen to offload the midfielder this summer.
It was recently revealed in The Chronicle that Newcastle’s chief scout Steve Nickson personally watched the 27-year-old in May. So he appears to at the very least be somewhere on the list of targets.
However, Lemina will turn 28 in September and The Mail is reporting that Mike Ashley is unwilling to shell out the £4m it would take to bring him to Newcastle. That is a bargain for a player who was Southampton’s record signing in 2017 when he joined from Juventus for £15.4m.
In his report, Simon Jones says that talks have been ongoing with Southampton over Lemina. Newcastle have even proposed a player swap but the Saints are not too keen on any of the unnamed Magpies offered.
It appears that Mike Ashley’s strict transfer policy of not paying money for players at or even approaching the age of 28 could be in full force this summer.
199 comments so far
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:44 AM
Comment #1Mbabu looked decent last night. Set up the goal and looked fast and powerful down the right. Ridiculous decision by Benitez letting him and Abeid go. Mbabu would walk into our team. Krath and Manquillo don’t have the speed and physical power as Mbabu.
Lemina is available for only £4m. That’s a must buy. Great player. About time we replaced the useless Hayden and got a better midfield.
I would like to see Willems and Van Aanholt signed for left back. If we have money to spend then sign Rogerio instead of Van Aanholt.
Shaqiri would improve us drastically too.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Comment #2We signed Wilson last year and he was 28, so I don’t see this as a problem. How old is N’Golo Kante? Lemina is an upgrade on what we have. We need more technical players to replace poor players like Hayden, Hendrick etc.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #3N’Golo Kante is 30. Makes this article even more ridiculous. You need experience to be successful. Can’t keep wasting money on players like Jamal Lewis and Joelinton. The business model is completely wrong at this club.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #4Henri Saivet is better than all of our central midfielders. Just shows you how bad we are. The lad wasn’t given a chance. Atsu was a decent technical player with a footballing brain. Should have also been utilised more.
G
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Comment #5Mbabu left as his contract was up didn’t he?
Munster Mag
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Comment #6So it’s bigotry to support your own country’s team? Ho ho I think you need to go back to school OP. Hope you enjoy supporting Germany against your own country . Can’t imagine your old army chum being too impressed.
Kets I think mbábu had to get out of town…
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 11:58 AM
Comment #7Nope, Benitez got rid of him.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:00 PM
Comment #8Benitez also made some poor signings with a decent budget. Got rid of decent players like Mbabu, Abeid, Thauvin, Doumbia, Janmaat, Mbemba, Mitrovic. Didn’t really rate him as a manager. Think Bruce has done a similar job. Bruce’s signings have been even worse too be honest.
Ketsbaia9
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Comment #9£55m on Lewis and Joelinton. We could’ve got ten quality squad players out of that. Poor business that.
DrGloom
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:08 PM
Comment #10Kets – Mbabu said himself he made so many mistakes off the pitch in his time at Newcastle and he pretty much had to leave – don’t think we can pin it on Benitez – Abeid has done nothing since he left apart from being sold quite quickly by every club he’s signed for and is now playing in Arab league
dabassman
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:16 PM
Comment #11The one thing that amazes me every year is the number of players we are supposed to be looking at By my last count this is number 91 That is 4 full squads!!!!!!!! Most of these links i think are made up by board football writers I was going to say journalists but ………. present company excepted of course
On the Joe being Bruce’s signing I’m not sure I thought the snake called Rafa wanted him but not at 40 million He thought 20 million was on the mark. The snake called rafa left and Ashley pushed through the deal.
Lewis is Bruce’s call yet somehow he hasn’t clicked yet I think both Lewis and Joe will have to have big seasons or its on you bike
There have been very few prem signings so far I suppose the managers have been on leave and/or waiting for England to be knocked out-being a wum me
DrGloom
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:21 PM
Comment #12Dabass – Ashley wanted him as somebody told him he was going to be the next Neymar or something – thats why we have him
dabassman
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Comment #13@Dr#12 yes I agree
Mund
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:31 PM
Comment #14Gloom
Spot on with regards Mbabu. Plenty like to put the blame on Rafa but Mbabu loved the party lifestyle and rumours were he got into a bit of trouble off the field.
I knew it had to be something like that at the time as the game against Chelsea showed us how good of a player he could actually be. Shame like but the world moves on.
Blaydon-Toon
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:34 PM
Comment #15I do. Remember Mbabu having a great game and kept Eden Hazard quiet when he was at his pomp – had high hopes which just faded away
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:40 PM
Comment #16Watching the cricket, football can wait a wee while. 🙂
dabassman
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:51 PM
Comment #17@mund#14 I never rated him but last night???????
Munster Mag
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:54 PM
Comment #18I liked mbábu but wudnt be hanging that one on rafa
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:54 PM
Comment #19NUFC got a mention from “Bumble” at the cricket. Talked about stripes on the pitch and said they look a bit like the black and white of Newcastle. 🙂
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Comment #20It’s very difficult to assess how young players will turn out and an awful lot is down to their personal maturity and attitude.
I can’t begin to imagine how much of a headbanger I’d have been if I was getting £5k/week at the age of 19/20. 😉
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:58 PM
Comment #21Did Mbabu not get up to naughty antics (like police level antics) with Aarons in town?
Newcastle City for a lot of younger players must be temptation city mind you probably better signing players who are already family men haha
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Comment #22Sri Lanka doing OK here, recovered from 46 -3 to 132 -3 (oops make that 136) 🙂
Optimistic prime
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:01 PM
Comment #23Munster
How you dare question anyone’s intelligence is beyond me.
You can’t even read a post and digest the info.
Wanna bring up China or any other country bigot?
geordie157
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:01 PM
Comment #24Lemina for Hendrick, straight swap haha
Ignoring most transfer links, it’ll likely be a couple of loans and a free transfer in this summer.
Cans have been in the fridge a while now, best check the best before dates!
Optimistic prime
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:03 PM
Comment #25Munster
You’re the blog equivalent of Donald Trump, a thick sexist bigot who beleives his own hype.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:03 PM
Comment #26Almiron knackered
Hamstring gone in last nights defeat images he looks not a happy bunny
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:04 PM
Comment #27So if the rumours are 100% and we didn’t want to buy Lemina because he is “too old” does this mean:
Ashley has had the heads up from the consortium that we are buying better?
We aren’t actually for sale anymore and Ashley wants to go back to young players for resell?
Bruce has signed a load of codgers who will all be over the age of 30 at the same time and all need replaced?
Or its just a fake transfer rumour as usual?
Ron Knee
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:11 PM
Comment #28Curioser and curioser:
“The camera was originally installed to point towards a glass door and balcony with sweeping views outside his ministerial office, which was considered a security weak point. But somebody turned it around so that it pointed instead to the internal doorway where Mr Hancock was caught kissing and fondling his aide Gina Coladangelo.” (Evening Standard)
Carson80
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:11 PM
Comment #29Going for a repeat of the World Cup 2014 semi final tonight.
England 1-7 Germany.
Totally get why someone would have a soft spot for Germany after living there, beautiful country and people who take pride in where they come from and how it looks.
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:13 PM
Comment #30Ron, Gove the silent assassin! 😉
Mund
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:14 PM
Comment #31dabassman
I always thought he had talent with what we seen of him but it always puzzled me with what happened but we rarely know what’s going on behind the scenes. Maybe he might fancy a transfer back? I’d take him
Mund
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:15 PM
Comment #32Nice to see my brother from another mother Carson 😎
Hope all is well mate
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:15 PM
Comment #33Did you never use the trains Carson? The graffiti all along their railway system is appalling!
Lovely out in the country though and cities are generally kept cleaner than here.
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:17 PM
Comment #34Ron, if someone’s “turned” that camera – it’ll be on camera 😆
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:18 PM
Comment #35149-4, Woakes 3 for11 from 7 overs.
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:19 PM
Comment #36Woakes, 4 for 11 from 8 overs. 149 – 5.
Carson80
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:24 PM
Comment #37Mund I’m good thanks.
Bob don’t know about the train lines only been to Boppard, I have a German sister in law who shows me photos and it’s a country I would like to visit more.
Anyway stuff to do, enjoy the match tonight everybody.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:24 PM
Comment #38Yeah I’m recording and watching it so will now have to not look at the blog for the rest of the day! 🙄
Ron Knee
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:25 PM
Comment #39Bob
Cui bono? Javid?
cleveleysbob
Jun 29, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #40Sorry Bill, I’ll stop with the updates.