Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Interested in Mario Lemina in Latest Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly preparing to raid Southampton for yet another one of their key players, with Mario Lemina said to be a summer target.

According to L'Equipe (h/t Glen Williams of MailOnline), the midfielder was tracked by Arsenal last summer before he eventually joined Saints from Juventus, but the Gunners no longer have an interest in the Gabon international.

Liverpool, however, are said to be interested in adding the tough-tackling Lemina to their midfield ranks, despite the pending arrival of RB Leipzig's Naby Keita.

While Southampton will be keen to keep hold of their best players in the summer, they may find themselves in a tough positionto do so. They sit 16th in the Premier League and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

In the past, they've regularly sold players to Liverpool. It was only in the previous window when the Reds landed Virgil van Dijk for a world-record fee for a defender.

As noted by journalist Nick Harris, Liverpool have splashed out huge amounts to get Southampton players through the door at Anfield:

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp joked about the continued signings from St Mary's Stadium earlier in the season, per the Guardian's Andy Hunter:

Lemina would make sense for the Reds, though, as they don't have another midfielder in the squad quite like him.

While Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita all want to influence the game in advanced areas, Lemina is much more disciplined. The 24-year-old is happy to sit in front of the defence, clatter into tackles and prevent the opposition from finding any footing.

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That would be to the benefit of Liverpool, as they have lacked a natural destroyer in that area of the field since the departure of Lucas Leiva.

Additionally, Lemina is strong in possession when freed up to go forward, as these numbers from Ben McAleer of WhoScored.com illustrate:

While Keita is on his way into Liverpool, there are major doubts about Can's future, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign. Per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Juventus are said to be keen to conclude a deal to sign the Germany international quickly.

Lemina would give Klopp more depth in this area of the field; the Guardian's Sachin Nakrani is a fan:

Southampton would surely be loath to sell another player to Liverpool, but they are in a difficult spot. If they were to get relegated, then you can imagine top-flight clubs moving to pinch some of their best talent.

Lemina has been one of the positives for Saints this season and it's easy to see where he would fit into this Liverpool setup. Based on their transfer activity in past windows, it would be no shock if this speculation did have legs.