In the summer of 2021, Steve Bruce was desperate to bring Mario Lemina to Newcastle United. Now it is January 2023, and the midfielder is closing in on a return to the Premier League.
Lemina is currently playing for Nice in Ligue 1, but could soon be on the move back to England after a year-and-a-half away.
According to the Express And Star, Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on a deal to sign the 29-year-old. They claim that talks are advancing over a £10million move to Molineux.
The Athletic add that Wolves are now hopeful of signing the Gabon international, who previously played for Southampton and Fulham in the Premier League.
And if Bruce had got his wish in his final transfer window in charge, Newcastle United would also be on that list.
Newcastle wanted to sign Mario Lemina in 2021
During the summer of 2021, Newcastle were still a club that was owned by Mike Ashley. The PIF takeover saga continued to rumble on in the background, but a lot of fans had lost hope over a deal.
It resulted in a fairly miserable summer, with Bruce given barely any cash to boost his squad. The former Toon boss was in the market for midfield reinforcements, and it looked like he had identified a player he wanted in Lemina.
Southampton were looking to sell him after a relegation-ridden loan spell at Fulham, and Newcastle were keen to bring him to St James’ Park.
The Northern Echo reported on July 22nd 2021 that Newcastle were confident of a deal, with a compromise over the price almost agreed. The Magpies wanted to pay £4million, but the Saints wanted £8million. However, the report stated that the initial fee would likely be closer to Newcastle’s valuation.
It didn’t look set to be an exciting signing, but Lemina seemed on course to arrive at St James’ Park after doing a decent job in a Fulham shirt – despite suffering relegation. And at the end of the day, Newcastle needed reinforcements.
Then things quickly unravelled. After it looked like Newcastle were closing in on the first signing of the summer, Lemina was on his way to France. It was then reported that a £4.7million fee had been agreed just hours later, and Lemina was no longer going to become a Magpie.
Lemina debacle was one of Ashley’s last transfer disasters
A transfer worth less than £5million, and Newcastle still couldn’t pull it off. That was a miserable summer for Toon fans, who are glad to see the back of Ashley and co.
Now Lemina is on his way back to the Premier League, and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. He is certainly a gifted footballer. When he joined Southampton in 2017, then vice-chairman Les Reed called him ‘outstanding‘.
And if he had joined the Magpies, he might still have been here now. Eddie Howe’s arrival was only a few months away after the Lemina disappointment. Perhaps he could have made a name for himself like so many Toon players that Howe has inherited.
Only time will tell, but it is no great loss to Newcastle, whose midfield is functioning perfectly right now – even if we could do with an extra body in reserve.
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