Allianz Riviera, Nice, France - March 5, 2022. Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi in action with OGC Nice's Mario Lemina.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing to make a third offer for Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Opening bids rejected
Julen Lopetegui now has the opportunity to start bringing some of his own players to Molineux as he builds his long-term project, and the 29-year-old has been identified as a primary target for the Premier League side.
The Gabon international has already been the subject of two rejected bids from the Old Gold, reportedly £4.4m and £4.9m, but Fosun aren’t willing to give up the chase and are set to return with yet another improved proposal.
The Latest: Third time lucky?
According to French outlet Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), Wolves are ‘ready to increase’ their offer for Lemina, who has a ‘concrete approach’ from the Midlands outfit.
Wanderers could reportedly go ‘up to’ €10m (£8m) in the hope of convincing the Ligue 1 giants to sell their prized asset, with the decision to keep or let him go expected to be based on whether interim manager Didier Digard has plans to use him.
The Verdict: Neves successor?
Ruben Neves has been heavily linked with an exit over the past 12 months, so Lemina could become the perfect successor should the captain depart.
The Libreville native is a defensive midfielder and currently ranks in the 96th percentile for most tackles made, alongside recording an 89.9% pass success rate.
Lemina has been labelled a ‘powerhouse’ by Garth Crooks, and having already played in the top-flight during spells at Southampton and Fulham, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be tempted to return.
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