FBL-ICC-AUS-ENG-JUVENTUS-TOTTENHAM — Juventus' midfielder Mario Lemina (L) competes with Tottenham Hotspur's Will Miller (R) during the International Champions Cup football match between Italy's Serie A team Juventus and Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur in Melbourne on July 26, 2016. / AFP / SAEED KHAN / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Arsenal Gossip

Arsenal offer Juventus €16m for Lemina – report

Aug 13, 2016

Arsenal have apparently offered Juventus €16m for midfielder, Mario Lemina, a 22-year-old they were linked with earlier in the season.

A defensive midfielder, it would seem an odd move from the club who have already purchased Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka in the last two windows, after refusing to reinfoce that position for years.

Lemina can, however, also play in central midfield and at right-back, a versatility that might appeal to Arsene Wenger in light of Carl Jenkinson being out until November and Mathieu Debuchy looking out of the club altogether.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 26: Mario Lemina of Juventus warms up before the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Juventus FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images) — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 26: Mario Lemina of Juventus warms up before the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Juventus FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

Under contract until 2020, reports in Italy state that the offer was turned down by Juve when it was received on Wednesday as they see him worth a minimum of €20m.

They would, it is claimed, be willing to negotiate his transfer, but not below this price.

Schalke are also said to be monitoring the situation of the former Marseille player who only signed permanently for the Italians this summer after a season on loan.

He cost £8.08m.