Wolves prepare improved offer of £8m for midfielder Mario Lemina after having initial bid rejected

Wolves are preparing an improved offer of around £8m for Nice midfielder Mario Lemina.

Manager Julen Lopetegui is desperate to improve his side further after securing the loan signing of Matheus Cunha.

Lemina is a player who is familiar with the Premier League having enjoyed a spell at Southampton as well as going on loan to Fulham.

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is looking to improve his side in a bid to help them avoid relegation

Wolves’ improved offer comes after Nice rejected a bid for their midfielder.

Despite turning down the offer, it is understood that a sale is not out of the question – and personal terms are not likely to be a problem if the French side do accept.

It is thought that the 29-year-old Gabon international could earn significantly higher wages by returning to the English top-flight.

Lemina spent four years at St Mary’s before moving to Ligue 1 with Nice in summer 2021. 

Wolves had an initial bid rejected by Nice for Lemina, who previously played for Southampton 

While under contract at Southampton, the midfielder also had spells with Galatasaray and Fulham. Since joining Nice last year, he has scored three goals in 57 appearances. 

Wolves boss Lopetegui is eager to improve his side during the January market to help them in their fight to avoid relegation.

His side are currently 19th in the Premier League and just two points off the bottom. 

Having said that, Wolves are also just three points of Leicester in 13th, so some January additions could be vital in boosting Lopetegui’s squad for the remainder of the season. 

New signing Cunha made his debut against Aston Villa as a substitute and Lopetegui resisted starting him again in the FA Cup against Liverpool.