Late last month, it was reported that Mike Ashley had nixed a £4m move for Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina due to him turning 28 in September.
Newcastle had been monitoring Lemina’s situation for months with Steve Nickson personally scouting him during a match in May. He was on loan with a purchase option at Fulham, who failed to beat the drop ending any chance of making the deal permanent.
The Gabon international is back at Southampton with an uncertain future. He’s entering the final year of the five-year contract he signed in 2017 when he joined from Juventus for a then-record fee for the Saints.
He’s spent the previous two seasons out on loan with no future at St Mary’s. Newcastle made their move last month with talks of a swap deal. However, Southampton only wanted a cash deal which Ashley was unwilling to sanction.
The Mail is reporting that Newcastle have reopened talks for the midfielder with Ashley having been persuaded to soften his stance. Discussions were held on Wednesday over a £4m deal. Newcastle are offering a three-year contract to Lemina.
It could come down to terms as Nice has a standing offer of £3.5m on the table. Newcastle are currently trying to tempt him to Tyneside to bolster Steve Bruce’s midfield options.
On Sunday, Bruce expressed concern about the position saying the following:
“We’re very, very short in the middle of the park at the minute. Very, very short.
“It’s something we need to address.”
Newcastle are still waiting on a decision from Arsenal over a Joe Willock loan move. There have also been reports of talks with Chelsea for Conor Gallagher and Midtjylland over Jens Cajuste, who is rated at between £11-13m.
Bruce revealed there were a few things ‘bubbling away’ in addition to Willock after the York City friendly. This move for Lemina could be one of the targets Bruce was referencing as he seems focused on midfield additions at the moment.
Earlier on Wednesday, Brentford announced their record signing of Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer on a five-year deal. He was reportedly one of Newcastle’s top defensive targets.
? Kris joins on a five-year deal from Celtic and becomes our second signing of the summer
Details ? https://t.co/ToSeLAG393 #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/8incGl7gOc
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 21, 2021
Maybe this u-turn by Ashley on Lemina indicates a slight change in transfer plans this summer after the adjournment of the arbitration hearing to early next year. Hopefully, that’s the case and we can get some sorely-needed new faces through the door.
199 comments so far
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:12 PM
Comment #1Magic
The new golf shoes were supposed to make their debut today at one of my favourite courses: Brampton, Cumbria.
Unfortunately, the outing was cancelled due to a covid “ping”. 🙁
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:17 PM
Comment #2https://youtu.be/27lRfV7r9VI
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:22 PM
Comment #3Ah well, that means Bruceyboy’s got £6m to spend now.
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:24 PM
Comment #4My next post was going to be…
I miss Disco Dan.
😥
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:25 PM
Comment #5Wor B
You must be a canny player.
Loads of gorse over there I think so if you’re wayward off the tee that can be challenging.
Wasn’t Brampton one of the courses where one of the Harrison brothers was / is? Three brothers all golf Pros. Their Dad was Pa(r) for the course.
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:25 PM
Comment #6Just enough to buy
https://youtu.be/K7zNY0I5JNI
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:26 PM
Comment #7How’s Rom
😆
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:26 PM
Comment #8Rom
https://youtu.be/_2u273F6oaE
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:27 PM
Comment #9Wor
All good thanks mate 🙂
Did you enjoy your trip to the pub ?
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:27 PM
Comment #10How’s you doing ?
NY Mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:28 PM
Comment #11Lesh,
We may be able to buy willocks right foot and surgically attach it to Joelinton…..winner, winner Brazilian dinner 🙂
kimbo
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:28 PM
Comment #12Surely we can afford the 2 trialist who came on for York City.
Next up the mighty Doncaster Rovers, how the hell can we compete with them????
magicmac54
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:29 PM
Comment #13Wor B
Is Brampton Cumbria close to Carlisle, i havent played golf for about 7 years, but when i retire at the end of this year with the help of god ill definitely get back to the golf next year, my clubs are still in the garage, no doubt ill be very rusty, i might be needing some coaching from you Wor B 😀 😀 😀
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:29 PM
Comment #14WorB
Thez nowt stoppinyi bein Disco Dan. Gan ern, pick a serng
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:29 PM
Comment #15Lesh
Now I would pay money to see wor playing a round of golf wearing blue suede shoes 😆
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:30 PM
Comment #16Wor B
You miss Disco?
https://youtu.be/A_sY2rjxq6M
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:30 PM
Comment #17NY Mag
If Willock’s right foot’ll help Joelinton do the business, the it’s money well spent.
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #18Rom
He might even start a trend. They’d beat sandshoes!
😉
NY Mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #19Loch,
Proper throwback that one…..still good though
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:34 PM
Comment #20Mac
Brampton was like the wild west when the Carlisle lads used to go for a drink out there in the sticks. Saturday nights used to get a bit tribal.
Think it’s quite sedate these days.
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:36 PM
Comment #21Loch
Only play Brampton once a year as an away day, it’s a really challenging course! Last outing there played a blinder so happy memories, don’t know the locals you refer too but if they learned their craft on that course they have a good grounding.
magicmac54
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:36 PM
Comment #22Perhaps if the takeover is finally approved Mike Ashley will stand on the pitch at Saint James and sing this song to the fans 😀 😀
https://youtu.be/w019MzRosmk
NY Mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:37 PM
Comment #23Lesh,
I’m just throwing out ideas…..I’ve heard lee charnley is an avid reader but doesn’t post (toon22’s target audience)
😀
Mund
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:38 PM
Comment #24I’d take Lemina like
magicmac54
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:39 PM
Comment #25Lochinvar
Evening Loch lad, do you remember Carlisle being in the old first division?
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:39 PM
Comment #26Mund
I don’t think so mate !
I’ve heard he’s quite hard 😉
Mund
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:42 PM
Comment #27😆
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:43 PM
Comment #28Magicmac54
Carlisle actually topped the first division for a few weeks!
I remember watching Match of the Day or whatever it was back then, and the BBC camera was focused on sheep grazing on the hills outside of Carlisle then it pulled focus into Brunton Park for the match
Romford mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:45 PM
Comment #29Anyway enough of my stupidness !
Goodnight everyone
Take care and be safe. 🙂
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:46 PM
Comment #30Evening Magic
Yes only too well.
My boyhood club.
Twinkketoes was the old boy mascot with the dead stuffed fox who ran onto the pitch before kick off and placed the fix on the centre spot.
Baldie – Chris Balderstone, also an England cricketer, sweet left foot.
Hugie Mac (Macilmoyle) – Carlisle’s own Super Mac
Alan Ross – brilliant keeper, only one cap for Scotland
And so many more
Munster Mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:47 PM
Comment #31Is take lamina all day long
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:47 PM
Comment #32Magicmac54
Update on protocols…… amended…
Just so you don’t put yer foot in it when your on Tyneside…..
If a bloke was referring to his wife, he’d say ‘our lass’.
If he was referring to the wife of someone he was talking to, he’d say ‘your lass’ and
If he was referring to somebody else’s wife, it’d be ‘their lass’
Hope that helps
?
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:49 PM
Comment #33This one’s for Tuffers…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k&ab_channel=VillagePeople
😉
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:49 PM
Comment #34NY Mag
Charmless an avid reader? Of what I wonder – How to Win Friends and Influence People.
NY Mag
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:49 PM
Comment #35Mund,
If £4m is correct, I’m not sure why Fulham didn’t take him….
Im not blaming Neil for reporting the “stories”……but I suspect there’s not a lot of truth in this one.
We could be interested for sure, he’s a decent player and I think he would improve us, but £4m, behave 🙂
lochinvar
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:51 PM
Comment #36Lesh
Not the hills of Cumbria, the sheep were on the riverbank at the back of the ground.
Rival fans used to chant ” sheep sh@ggers” which wasn’t fair as many of my best friends were sheep.
Pitch had Cumberland sea washed turf – best in country until the whole ground was flooded on many occassions
Wor B
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:51 PM
Comment #37Rom
Night mate, take care.
🙂
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:51 PM
Comment #38Wor B
Great choice and I’m sure yer man’ll be delighted with your choice.
You’re now a Blog Disco Dan.
Live up to the honour.
lesh
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:52 PM
Comment #39lochinvar
I stand corrected and in awe at your memory.
Thanks for that.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 21, 2021 at 11:53 PM
Comment #40Gotta bring in a few to strengthen. You don’t just get more in two or three areas of the pitch, you get more from your entire 11, particularly your better players. Football 101, which somehow eludes Mike Ashley’s NUFC.