Everton target Mario Lemina has received glowing endorsements

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This article is part of Football FanCast's Expert Roundup feature, which provides three quotes from those in the know in order to illuminate fundamental strengths, weaknesses, quirks, stylistic comparisons and general observations of players, transfer targets and confirmed signings.

Everton have parted ways with midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who's left the Toffees for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around £30m.

Marco Silva's side resisted the advances of PSG in January for one of their star players but the French side eventually landed their target.

Everton will presumably now enter the market for a new midfielder to replace Gueye and it seems Mario Lemina has been identified as an option for the Toffees midfield.

The Liverpool Echo are reporting that a deal to bring Lemina to the club is being explored and that Southampton want £20m for the midfielder they signed from Juventus for £18.1m.

So with the transfer being a possibility, what have those in the know had to say about Lemina?

Matt Le Tissier - Southampton icon

You know you're impressing Southampton supporters if you're earning praise from Matt Le Tissier, the man who enjoyed 16 wonderful years with the Saints.

Lemina made a bright start to life in England, and the former midfielder highlighted exactly what he was doing so well during the early stage of his spell:

"It was quite a big fee for us to pay but it has been a good start for him. He was outstanding in the win against Crystal Palace and quality against Manchester United too.

"If he keeps putting in performances like that against the top sides then no doubt Liverpool will come calling! He has not got a great goal scoring record and I do not see him as somebody who is going to get us the eight or nine goals we need from midfield, but he is good at breaking up play and picking a pass.

"He is forming a very solid partnership with Oriol Romeu and if we want to keep moving forward, these are the sort of players that we need."

Wayne Bridge - former Premier League player

Wayne Bridge is another player, like many after him, to have come through the famous Southampton academy, and he went on to enjoy a decent career, earning moves to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.

Having kept an eye on his former club, the former left-back spoke in glowing terms of the Saints midfielder.

"Lemina is such a great player: his workrate, the way he gets up and down the pitch.

"He passes forward a lot. Southampton aren't doing as well as they should be in terms of scoring goals but his all-round play is great and if he can control the game from the middle of the park they’ll have a great chance."

Marcelo Bielsa - Leeds United manager

Marcelo Bielsa worked with Lemina at Marseille, and the Leeds United boss had some encouraging words to say about the versatile midfielder, who played 25 times under the Argentine.

"He is a different type of player to the majority of footballers. He knows how to attack and how to defend. He offers a lot of solutions to the coach and to his team."