Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, 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) that he wanted to retain the services of Lemina going into the new season.

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 report back in June, both the Saints and Newcastle United were competing for the 23-year-old's signature.