According to sources in Italy Southampton are about to make a central defensive signing from Torino, will this be the lynchpin in the defence that we desperately need ? or will it be another false dawn.

The man linked to St Mary's and also Watford is a Brazillian, Lyanco Evangelista Silveira Neves Vojnović to give him his full name, known just as Lycanco to Serie A enthusiasts.

The 24 year old 6ft 2 inch central defender was born in Brazil but in his early career plauyed some International games for Serbia at U19 level, although he subsequently switched allegiances to Brazil where he has been capped up to U23 level.

He started his club career at San Paulo but left in 2017 for Torino in Italy for a fee said to be around £5 million.

His time in Turin has not been smooth, initially he struggled to make an impact and in 2018/19 he joined fellow Serie A club Bologna.

Like many season 2019/20 saw his season interrupted by both injury and Covid, but he started 15 league games for Torino played another 2 off the bench and was an unused sub on 13 occsions.

Last season saw him make a real breakthrough and for the first half of the season he was first choice in the side, but he spend much of the last quarter of the season on the bench and this has prompted him to consider that his career may lay away from Torino.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio in Italy is reporting that Southampton have decided Lyanco is their man, and that a deal has been struck.

Di Marzio is reporting on his website, that the Brazilian defender ‘will transfer to England on permanent basis for a fee of around €7m.

A right footed centre back, he has 80 Serie A games to his name plus a number of Italian Cup games, so has some experience, but is he the leader and organiser that Saints really need at the back.

The hope is that he is a player who has talent but hasn't quite developed it yet and that Saints can bring him on and make him a class act, something that they have done well in the past with central defenders.

He is described in various articles as a ball playing central defender but with a no nonsense approach and along with Watford who were said to be close to a deal a few days ago , he has attracted interest before Leeds United being linked at one stage,

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 17:13 - Aug 20 If he arrives at the same speed as my ST, he'll be here in June!
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schatfield added 18:45 - Aug 20 According to this site, he will be a massive failure because his name doesnt start with Gary and end with Cahill
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underweststand added 19:30 - Aug 20 IF TRUE (?)...this bears out my annual prediction that Saints end up buying players we have never heard of before, whilst the media is printing yards of column space about the likes of Cahill, Worral and countless others destined to take Vestergaard's place. This will certainly put a lot of noses out of joint, especially those journos who claim to have seen the ink drying on a contract for.. " some other more famous names ". The fee looks quite acceptable and we can only hope that he is - as a good as / better than - all the others we have chosen to ignore.

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WestSussexSaint added 19:56 - Aug 20 If the quoted price is correct then there is still money in the kitty from the Vestergaard and Ings transfer for another player. RK said he was potentially looking for a defensive midfielder or could we make a bid for a decent keeper?
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Peterx added 20:05 - Aug 20 Torino shipped a lot of goals last year but hopefully this is an upcoming player that we can develop for later in the season and future seasons. I'm still hoping that we will sign more of a finished article at CB.
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derbydog added 20:56 - Aug 20 Anyone want to play which experienced but over the hill with no resale value centre half will Nick bang on about next transfer window? John Terry may be still looking for a club then!
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JoeEgg added 21:46 - Aug 20 Well if we are getting Lyanco yu have to remember that he wa
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JoeEgg added 21:48 - Aug 20 Well if we are getting Lyanco you have to remember that he was in the Centre of the Torino defence that played Milan in May - it was a home match and Torina lost 7-0! Sounds an appropriate choice for us then!!!
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Boris1977 added 22:02 - Aug 20 Might even sign him in time for the 0-9 match v man u at the weekend. Just so long as it's a positive 0-9 though not an embarrassing one
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JoeEgg added 11:01 - Aug 21 Unbelieveable! The guy was more often than not an unused substitue at Torina who had a terrible defence and only just avoided relegation. Who on earth recommended Lyanco?
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Boris1977 added 14:12 - Aug 21 Sounds like someone at the club is determined to orchestrate managed decline
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