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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed has joined Fulham on loan with an option to buy, per the Championship club's official website.

What’s the word?

The 24-year-old has been sent on a number of short-term deals during his time at the Saints, playing for Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers prior to his move to Craven Cottage.

Reed, a midfielder who has been capped at England youth level, has made a total of 30 appearances for the Saints.

He has not played in the Premier League since 2017, making a five-minute cameo in a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

However, Reed does have a great deal of Championship experience, having played 72 times in the second-tier.

Permanent transfer inevitable

Reed appears almost certain to eventually leave Southampton.

He does not appear to have the quality required to make his way into the first-team and appears better suited to the second-tier.

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And with Fulham holding the option to buy Reed outright, he has the chance to finally earn himself a permanent move away.

Should Fulham not take up that option, Reed's contract will have just twelve months left on it next summer - that only further insinuates a permanent departure from Southampton before the start of the 2020/21 season being largely inevitable.

He does not have much hope of making his way at St Mary’s; Fulham is his chance to finally get away from the Saints and kickstart his career.

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