---
title: "Exclusive: Ex-Southampton star says Hasenhuttl had no chance of keeping Lemina"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-ex-southampton-star-says-hasenhuttl-had-no-chance-of-keeping-lemina/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-08-03T17:20:57Z"
modified: "2021-08-03T17:20:57Z"
---

# Exclusive: Ex-Southampton star says Hasenhuttl had no chance of keeping Lemina

**Speaking exclusively to [The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/), former Southampton player Carlton Palmer believes Ralph Hasenhuttl was never going to be able to keep hold of Mario Lemina.**

The 27-year-old recently joined Ligue 1 outfit Nice, bringing his time at St. Mary’s to an end.

Hasenhuttl, though, recently told BBC Radio Solent ([via HampshireLive](https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/transfer-news/mario-lemina-newcastle-united-transfer-5709929)) that he wanted to retain the services of Lemina going into the new season.

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This comes despite the Gabonese midfielder spending the last couple of campaigns out on loan at Fulham and Galatasaray and away from his former manager’s first-team plans.

Taking that into account, Palmer feels Lemina remaining on the south coast was never an option.

*“When you show a player you’re not really keen on him, which is what he’s done, then you’re not going to be able to keep the player in the next breath,”* the ex-Southampton star told **TT**.

*“He’s made the decision at the time to loan him out and he’s not been involved and now he’s in a situation where he needs midfield players. But the player’s not going to stay, is he? It’s a difficult one.”*

It obviously leaves Southampton now needing to dip into the transfer market, with Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury potentially being one option.

According to a [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/newcastle-make-move-to-beat-southampton-to-choudhury-signing-after-bruce-talks-held/) report back in June, both the Saints and Newcastle United were competing for the 23-year-old’s signature.