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,