Southampton could lose midfielder Mario Lemina on a permanent basis this summer.

Lemina is currently on loan from Southampton at Fulham and the midfielder had spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray. It now seems as though Saints could be set to lose the former Juventus man permanently in the summer.

Fulham have growing belief about Lemina signature

The Sun have recently reported about Fulham's stance on summer transfers and they say that the Craven Cottage-based side now have a growing belief that they can keep the players who are currently only there on loan, Lemina included.

Lemina is one of four loanees that the relegation battlers have a permanent option on, and there's an increasing likelihood of that route being taken.

The report claims the London outfit expect to keep those players if they avoid relegation, which appears increasingly likely given their changing fortunes compared to the likes of Newcastle and Brighton.

The 27-year-old Gabonese midfielder has made 20 appearances in the top flight this season for Fulham and he recently scored for them against Liverpool in a 1-0 win.

Lemina could still be a first-team option for Saints

As things stand, Southampton have three out-and-out options in central midfield, but Will Smallbone finds himself on the sidelines because of an injury. Ibrahima Diallo is also injured and he can also play in central midfield (as per Transfermarkt).

Southampton may need extra depth in midfield and Lemina can add that, if he does return to the club.

We feel it could be a mistake to let him leave for good, given that Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have been so harshly struck by injuries this term.

In other news, many Southampton fans have been talking about the injury to Danny Ings - read more here.