Juventus have a rejected a loan bid from Galatasaray for midfielder Mario Lemina, according to Tuttosport.
Reports in the Turkish media had stated yesterday that the Istanbul club had offered €8million for the Gabonese international, but it seems likely that the bid was an initial loan offer with an option to buy.
In any case, the number was well below Juve’s asking price of €20million. Tuttosport say the Bianconeri are hoping that either Arsenal or Watford (the two other clubs who are watching the 23 year old), will make an offer closer to their expectations.
Considering Lemina was signed by Juventus for just €9.5million last summer following a year on loan in Turin, their valuation seems very high. Expecting to sell a player for double the money after the midfielder started just eleven times last season is ambitious.
With Santi Cazorla now looking increasingly unlikely to play much part next campaign, manager Arsene Wenger is running very low on central midfield talent, and he may see Lemina as a relatively cheap option to strengthen the club’s depth in that position.
