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

According to Sky Sports, Southampton outcast Mario Lemina is closing in on a season-long loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, having previously been linked with a move to Monaco.

What's the word, then?

Well, the Gabonese midfielder was previously frozen out by Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary's along with striker Charlie Austin - who ended up joining West Brom - and appears to have no future under the Austrian boss.

Lemina was of interest to Manchester United, Everton and Wolves in the summer window but was left to rely on the rest of Europe to grant his wish of an exit after the deadline for English clubs passed, but it now appears as if Galatasaray will hand him a lifeline.

The former Juventus midfielder has made 52 appearances for the Saints, scoring two goals.

Another sign of past transfer failings 

Southampton have made some truly woeful signings in recent years who have gone on to flop hugely, and Lemina is just another piece of evidence to back that statement up with him set to depart on loan.

The Saints presumably would've hoped for something more from their £18.1m investment when signing Lemina from Juventus, whilst there are a number of others who haven't lived up to expectations.

Mohamed Elyounoussi recently joined Celtic on loan, having signed for the Saints in a deal worth £16m in 2018, whilst another expensive flop in Guido Carrillo - a £19m signing from Monaco - recently left to join Leganes on loan.

Centre-back Wesley Hoedt, a £15m signing from Lazio, is also close to leaving on loan - these four exits are solid proof that the Saints have failed miserably with their transfer policy in recent years.

All four of these players cost a combined total of £68.1m, and it is looking extremely likely that the club won't get anything near that amount of money back from these four players who have left on loan.

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