According to the Evening Standard, Arsene Wenger rejected the chance to sign Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, who is close to joining Southampton, as he puts his foot down over transfers at the Emirates.
Lemina’s was the subject of interest from a number of Arsenal scouts and mentioned by Dick Law, the principal transfer negotiator at Arsenal, as the Gunners pondered a bid for the Juventus midfielder before Wenger admitted that he felt the player was too unproven to warrant a move.
The player is now closing in on a £18 million move to Southampton after passing his medical at St Mary’s this week, despite starting just eight times for the Turin outfit last season.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis wanted to hire a director of football at Arsenal but Wenger strongly disagreed as he wanted full power over transfers.
Wenger, in the end, opted against the move and focused on bringing in Alexandre Lacazette, a much needed out and out striker from Lyon.
This may restore faith in the people who wanted Wenger out last season, especially if the new signings start as they mean to go on.
Wenger is also asserting his authority on the Alexis Sanchez saga, with the Frenchman adamant that the former Barcelona man is going to stay.
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