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This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

Manchester United have distanced themselves from a move for Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina according to ESPN, and rightly so.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side had been linked with a move for the Gabon international recently, and The Times even reported that they had been given permission to speak with the £18m-rated player.

But why the Red Devils were even considering Lemina is fairly baffling in the first place. He has never truly set the world alight at Southampton since arriving in an £18.1m deal from Juventus two years ago, despite impressing in flashes.

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The 25-year-old made 21 appearances last season in the Premier League, scoring once and assisting another, but the Saints seem willing to let him leave the club this summer as per a report from The Mirror.

Lemina was hardly influential for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side last term, missing a huge 16 games with an abdominal issue which ruled him out from December 31st to April 20th.

Southampton managed to pull off a great escape without him and if anything improved during his absence - in fact, they won just 5% of games with Lemina in the side across all competitions, compared to 39% when he wasn't involved.

Going off this, why on earth would he be a suitable candidate for Manchester United? It's incredibly unusual for a player no longer wanted by a side who finished 16th in the Premier League being considered as a signing for the Old Trafford outfit.

More pertinently, Solskjaer simply cannot afford anymore duds - United's roster is already overflowing with players whose reputations fail to match their current form. They need someone who will be an ever-present, as well as someone who is entirely committed to the cause.

Lemina is arguably neither of those things. As aforesaid, his terrible injury problems meant he wasn't available to feature often last season, whilst he has taken to the media to openly talk about leaving the club who he is contracted to.

Paul Pogba did this recently, saying how he felt he needed a new challenge and some United fans absolutely slammed him for doing so.

Those types of characters are part of what is going wrong at Old Trafford right now, and Solskjaer would be crazy to add another midfielder with question marks to the squad.

United are thoroughly correct to distance themselves from a move.