Lyanco was left out of Torino’s Serie A opener against Atalanta at the weekend as the defender closes in on a move to Premier League outfit Southampton, as reported by the Toro website.
In the aftermath of yesterday’s impressive 1-1 draw with Manchester United, Saints coach Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted a new centre-half would arrive on the South Coast before next weeks’ transfer deadline.
“You can expect more signings and one that can really help. We will do something, that’s for sure,” the former RB Leipzig boss told Hampshire Live.
And if reports are to be believed, Lyanco is the man who will be tasked with replacing Jannik Vestergaard following the Dane’s £15 million move to Leicester City.
Lyanco looks set to join Southampton
It emerged on Friday that Southampton had hijacked Watford’s pursuit of the 24-year-old Brazilian.
Torino hoped to retain him but, after the former Sao Paulo defender expressed his desire for a fresh start, the Serie A side reluctantly agreed to accept a bid in the region of £6 million from the Saints.
And Lyanco was conspicuous by his absence as Torino, who finished just one place above the relegation zone last term, started the new season with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Champions League-chasers Atalanta.
According to Toro News, Lyanco will say goodbye to his teammates today, having already undergone medical examinations ahead of his prospective move to England.
Strong in the air and an impressive passer of the ball, Lyanco may be four inches shorter than the towering Vestergaard but certainly has the skills and technical ability to thrive at the heart of Hasenhuttl’s sometimes shaky back line.
It remains to be seen who will make way for the new signing, however, with Jack Stephens and Mohammed Salisu standing firm on Sunday as the Saints kept Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils at arms’ length.
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