Why Tottenham Hotspur must make a January swoop for Mario Lemina
According to a report from Foot Mercato, Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing Southampton star Mario Lemina in the summer. However, Tottenham failed to table an offer and Lemina stayed at Southampton.
Mauricio Pochettino delivered a top-four finish last season and has done it while also leading Tottenham to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the knockout stages of the Champions League. With a new stadium coming up, Spurs had a lot to look forward to.
But Spurs had a forgettable summer transfer window as Pochettino failed to add a single player to his existing squad. While Pochettino has a set squad that is capable of beating any team on their day, Spurs have been defensively brittle and disorganised going forward.
The team has good quality to go on and win silverware but as things stand, Pochettino needs a couple of signings more to turn his team into title challengers.
Come January, Pochettino must prioritise finding another central midfielder who is capable of replacing Mousa Dembele, especially given the concerns over the Belgian’s contract situation.
Dembele’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club in January. With the Belgian having entered the 30s, Pochettino should start hunting for potential replacements.
One player who could fit the bill is Mario Lemina, who joined Southampton from Juventus in the summer of 2017. He was one of the few shining lights last season for Southampton as the Saints narrowly escaped relegation under Mark Hughes.
However, the Gabonese ace has failed to live up to the expectations so far this season as he has gone missing in several games. Nevertheless, Lemina remains a quality player and can change the course of games single-handedly.
A strong, energetic, industrious and hard-tackling midfielder, Lemina has shown glimpses of his quality at Southampton. The ex-Juventus man is a very good passer of the ball and he has the penchant of coming up with screamers.
The Gabon international is a workhorse, known for his stamina, tenacity, composure, cheekiness and ability to read the game. Due to his wonderful passing range and vision, Lemina would complement the defensive-minded Victor Wanyama in the Spurs midfield.
Lemina could go missing in some of the games but he has the natural ability to win games by holding the scruff of its neck. He is an engine in the middle of the park and would certainly prove to be a valuable asset for Pochettino’s side.
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Hence, Tottenham must rekindle their interest in Lemina and not hesitate to splash the cash in January.