Mario Lemina has cast doubt on whether he will still be a Southampton player at the start of the season by indicating he would be interested in moving on.
The 25-year-old, who joined Saints from Juventus for £18.1million two years ago, has scored twice in 46 Premier League appearances for the club.
The Gabon international has been linked with a transfer to Atalanta even though he is contracted to Southampton until 2022.
He said: "Today, I am at Southampton. I still have another three years of my contract left but it is true that I do not rule out the possibility of seeing something else.
"The last four months have not been easy for me, with my injury. The coach put his team together. I want to start afresh. So why not leave? We have very good discussions with the club. We are in agreement.
"If I don't feel good in this project, I can leave. Otherwise, the club is counting on me, there is no problem. They are giving me the opportunity to be able to go elsewhere."
The midfielder made his debut for the club in the 3-2 win at West Brom at the beginning of the 2017/18 season but soon after Ralph Hasenhuttl's appointment in December 2018 he suffered an abdomen injury which sidelined him until April.
Lemina will travel to Austria later this week with the rest of the Saints squad to continue their preparations for the new season.
Southampton are 3/1 to finish in the top half of the Premier League table in 2019/20 and 15/8 to beat Burnley on 10th August.
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Mario Lemina has cast doubt on whether he will still be a Southampton player at the start of the season by indicating he would be interested in moving on.
The 25-year-old, who joined Saints from Juventus for £18.1million two years ago, has scored twice in 46 Premier League appearances for the club.
The Gabon international has been linked with a transfer to Atalanta even though he is contracted to Southampton until 2022.
He said: "Today, I am at Southampton. I still have another three years of my contract left but it is true that I do not rule out the possibility of seeing something else.
"The last four months have not been easy for me, with my injury. The coach put his team together. I want to start afresh. So why not leave? We have very good discussions with the club. We are in agreement.
"If I don't feel good in this project, I can leave. Otherwise, the club is counting on me, there is no problem. They are giving me the opportunity to be able to go elsewhere."
The midfielder made his debut for the club in the 3-2 win at West Brom at the beginning of the 2017/18 season but soon after Ralph Hasenhuttl's appointment in December 2018 he suffered an abdomen injury which sidelined him until April.
Lemina will travel to Austria later this week with the rest of the Saints squad to continue their preparations for the new season.
Southampton are 3/1 to finish in the top half of the Premier League table in 2019/20 and 15/8 to beat Burnley on 10th August.
Source: bet365.com