Saints completed their first major signing of the summer today when they announced that Juventus's Mario Lemina has put pen to paper on a five year deal.

The press release from the club read.

Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Mario Lemina from Juventus.

The 23-year-old today completed his switch from the Italian side and has joined the club on a five-year contract.

A senior international with Gabon, Lemina started his career in France, with Lorient, before joining Marseille in 2013 and then moving to Juventus in 2015, initially on loan, before completing a permanent transfer last summer.

In his time with the Bianconeri, he won both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia twice, and featured in last season’s Champions League final, against Real Madrid.

Vice Chairman (Football) Les Reed said: “Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career, winning a number of titles and gaining experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football.

“Investing in a player of Mario’s quality and buying from a club like Juventus is a significant statement of intent from the club, and this is a purchase that has set another club-record fee.

“Mario still has his best years ahead of him, and we believe that he will not only be an excellent acquisition for us in the immediate future, but that he will also be able to realise even more of his potential here in the years to come.

“In a volatile market with some extraordinary and inexplicable transfers taking place, we are determined to go about our work in a diligent and correct way. This is a player who has won trophies and played in the Champions League final less than three months ago and he has signed for Saints amid a host of suitors.

“Mario will complement what is already an extremely strong group of midfield players in our squad, and we are excited about what he will bring to the group.”

Commenting on his move, Mario Lemina said:

“I am really happy to have signed for Southampton. I think that it was the project that attracted me the most and the one my family was really behind. I am really happy to be here.”

A good signing for Saints and for Mauricio Pellegrino, Lemina is a strong box to box player known for breaking up opposition attacks and starting up counters for his own side.

The new Saints manager is nown to like to build his side on two strong holding players in the centre and Lemina should compliment Oriol Romeu and offer Saints a good strong platform to utilise their speed going forward on the counter, something they did all too rarely under Claude Puel.

This does leave th squad a bit top heavy in the centre of the park with five options available to Pellegrino including his new man he also has Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis, James Ward Prowse, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg for the three positions.

The Saints squad looks strong now in all departments bar one and that is the centre of defence, sort that out quickly and we have a lot to look forward to.

Photo: Action Images

petedoors1 added 19:18 - Aug 8 Good signing. Perhaps we can offload Prowse now.
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northernsaint1 added 19:30 - Aug 8 not a Prowsey big lover but think he is defo good fit for squad loose Classie for sure and Davis not got long left Hojbjerg still not looking good so id start with Orio and Mario!!!
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SaintBrock added 19:51 - Aug 8 “Mario will complement what is already an extremely strong group of midfield players in our squad, ............” That's just in case we weren't taking his message on board last season! Thanks Les. Now for that world class CB please or do we still have "one of the outstanding partnership at CB in world football" OK, OK, I made that last bit up but the guy is like a dog with a bone. Need stop take some of Adkins' advice

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pintsizedsaint added 20:05 - Aug 8 Nice to be talking about football again! But I did like Les' comment about "diligent and correct" recruitment...! Great player. Much admired in Italy. As said here his key strengths lie in quick transition from defence to attack. This guy can "pick a lock" with his passing and Austin (and long) must be relishing the opportunity. Good defensive contribution too. You feel that the back four will be very hard to unlock via direct play with Lemina and Romeu prowling. It's clear we are midfield heavy now but there will be lots of opportunities too. I fear Steven Davies time will be more limited.

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WanderingSaint added 20:10 - Aug 8 Looks a quality player. One concern though is that the manager is known for playing defensive football. This guy's main strength is breaking up attacks and launching quick counter attacks. I hope we're not setting up for that.
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bstokesaint added 21:43 - Aug 8 Wish we could quit the Les bashing. It's very boring. The guy brings in our record signing and still it's the same old bleaters rattling on. Yes, we need a centre back, there's no doubt, but surely a ball winner in the middle of the park, who has pedigree in winning things is a good thing? I'm pretty convinced that a couple of posters on here might just be stirring. It's like moaning at Santa that he has the audacity to take a mince pie. Honestly.

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saintpaz added 22:11 - Aug 8 another shrewd move from Les, well done! I would like 1 class cb and 1 striker that will bag us goals, someone like a Hernandez/defoe type player and I'm happy. If Austin gets injured and Gabbi isnt firing, who do we look to? Long just doesn't score enough. Not sure why we are supposedly after another RB too??
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highfield49 added 22:27 - Aug 8 Great signing, full credit to the club for getting this guy on board, he has massive potential. I fully expect Souness and Redknapp to be advising him to sign for a big club by October. One quality central defender and I believe we can seriously look at a top six finish. What a difference a day makes!
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TeamCortese added 22:47 - Aug 8 Looks like a very good signing. Hopefully this will prompt a sink or swim mentality with our midfielders--especially with JWP and Davis. They've both had significant game time and I think Mauricio doesn't trust them enough for this season. It must be worrying times for Clasie and Hojberg. I suspect one of them might leave. I'm hoping they both stay and Davis and JWP leave instead.

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bstokesaint added 22:49 - Aug 8 I concur Paz. We're putting a lot of faith in Gabi. There's no doubt that the bloke has an eye for goal, but realistically we're going to be looking to get 20 or so out of him. Charlie is simply a box striker. He looks like a fish out of water when he has to do any running. If his can maintain his fitness he'll get goals if we get him the ball, but not loads. And then there's Shane. I love the bloke's work ethic and he'll create goals because of it but again won't score loads. I guess we're going to be relying on Redmond knocking in a few. Him and JWP definitely didn't do their profiles any harm in the U21 tournament over the summer. JWP does need to do more in open play though.

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steve73 added 23:25 - Aug 8 Happy with this signing and I think the club are handling 'other matters' brilliantly too. Just need to lose one CM now (PEH would be my choice) and bring in a much needed CB and we can look forward to a good season.
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 09:44 - Aug 9 This guy could be brilliant for us. Last season at times we looked a bit lightweight in midfield (Davis, Clasie and JWP aren't the strongest physically). Lemina along with Romeu will bring back that midfield dominance we had with the likes of Schneiderlin and Wanyama. I think this guy will be used alongside Romeu at home, so Romeu can sit in front of the back two while Lemina closes down the opposition and looks to break forward with the attacks. Away from home he could be used alongside Davis in CM with Romeu in just behind DCM, so you've got a midfield that's a nightmare to play against. There's certainly plenty of options now and realistically they need to let either Clasie or Hoijberg go, at least on loan, because their game time will be non-existent. There's a lot of similarities with Pogba in terms of playing style. That physicality and work rate coupled with touches of flair and ability. And finally we have a central midfielder who can thunder in a shot from 25 yards and provide a threat from distance.

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SaintPaulVW added 09:57 - Aug 9 This is what we were lacking last year a driving midfielder. I don't think he would have prospered under Puel's style of play last year though! Looks good. Think he'll be in the team soon so Clasie and Hjobjerg better up their game and show what we bought them for if they want to get in that first team. Just what we need.
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DPeps added 10:19 - Aug 9 Agree that this looks like a good signing. He's tidy on the ball and can move it forwards, something we've lacked since Morgan left. I think Classie is decent but might be time to move him on. PEH needs another season
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SaintBrock added 13:38 - Aug 9 When Clasie and Hojbjerg were signed they too were lauded as good signings that would strengthen our midfield but seemingly both have found it difficult to adapt to the pace and physicality of the PL. Now just a few short years later most on here are offering up their heads on a platter as makeweights for yet more incomers who have yet to be tested in the same PL arena. Let's wait and see before we get too carried away by a price tag and relief of anxiety over new signings. Just saying... Of course I am a fan and want the best for our club and really hope this guy can make it here even if only for a couple of years or so. As for "usual culprits" Les bashing, come off your high horse bstoke everyone on here has had more than the odd pop or two at the bloke in recent summers.

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SaintBrock added 13:43 - Aug 9 Hopefully Steven Davis can now be played in the advanced AMF or No 10 position where he is more at home. That fantastic pick-out assist on Saturday shows the guy can read a game well and has great vision ... and he can tackle. Even at 32 his stamina puts others to shame, hopefully a more forward role will help conserve his energy during matches.
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