Saints set to land £18m Super Mario

SOUTHAMPTON are smashing their transfer record by signing Juventus ace Mario Lemina for £18million.

The 23-year-old will undergo a medical today after the two clubs agreed a fee.

Gabon international Lemina will snub interest from Stoke by moving to St Mary’s.

Midfielder Lemina (right) was already in England for the Serie A giants’ 2-0 friendly defeat to Tottenham, when Saints made their move.

The fee, which could rise to £20m with add-ons, eclipses the £17m Saints paid Lille for Sofiane Boufal last summer.

New Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino said: “Hopefully the players that come in will make us stronger.”