Southampton are ready to let Mario Lemina leave the club this summer. 

The news has been met by mixed responses from the Saints supporters, with opinions divided on the enigmatic Gabon international. 

Lemina was ruled out for swathes of last season as he underwent surgery on an abdomen injury, but he returned for the final periods under Ralph Hasenhuttl. 

He appears to be out of favour with the Austrian, however, and as the club aim to raise funds to strengthen their first-team squad further this summer, the ex-Juventus man could be on his way out. 

Southampton have plenty of options in midfield, with Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having occupied the berths throughout last term. 

However, Lemina’s departure would leave the Saints somewhat short of a naturally holding player, and replacing the 25-year-old midfielder could be on Hasenhuttl’s agenda.

So, take a look at nine players who Southampton could target to replace the man who arrived for £18 million in the summer of 2017.