Newly-promoted Fulham have reportedly agreed moves for a pair of Southampton midfielders in Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina, according to BBC Radio Solen’t Adam Blackmore.
Reed, who spent last season on loan with Fulham in the Championship, has had an £8 million option to buy triggered by the Cottagers. Meanwhile, Lemina is set to initially move on loan with a view to a permanent move.
Personal terms are now being discussed with both players.
Southampton and Fulham Agree Fees for Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina
Good Chance of Game Time for Reed
At 25-years-old, Reed will feel that he needs to be playing regularly – something he wasn’t doing at Southampton, hence the loan to Fulham.
He played 24 times in the league last season, helping the West London side to the play-off final where they were victors over near neighbours Brentford.
Reed had often looked to be one of the next academy products to make their breakthrough at Southampton, but struggled to lock down regular playing time.
A move to Fulham will give him this chance and is a good move for the Cottagers too, who get to keep one of their strongest performers from last season for a relatively small fee.
Last Chance for Lemina?
Despite joining the club in 2017 (and to much fanfare as he arrived from Juventus), Lemina is largely a forgotten man on the south coast.
The 26-year-old spent last season on loan in Turkey with Galatasaray and only made 46 appearances for the Saints in his two campaigns prior.
He is clearly a talented player, as he showed in glimpses for Southampton, and Fulham will hope to unlock that once more. As well, it is a low-risk move for them as, if the loan does not work out, he will likely return to Southampton to see if he can be shipped off permanently elsewhere.
Main Photo
