£7 million Southampton defender Lyanco is interested in a return to Brazil after falling down the pecking order at the Premier League outfit, his father and agent Marcelo Vojnovic tells Atencao Vascainos.
Throughout the entirety of the current campaign, Lyanco has only started two games in his favoured position at the heart of Southampton’s backline. And both of those came against lower league opposition (Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday) in the EFL Cup.
For the most part, the £7 million signing from Torino has been utilised as a late impact sub, or as a stand-in right-back; covering for the injury-enforced absences of Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters.
And, according to Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola, Lyanco is now giving serious consideration to a return to South America in 2023. His representative, Nicola adds, is already in discussions with Rio-based duo Botafogo and Vasco da Gama.
“You can’t say that it’s an impossible negotiation (for Botafogo or Vasco),” the reporter explains. “Or an extremely expensive one for a 25-year-old player with a lot of experience abroad, and a European passport.”
Is Lyanco leaving Southampton after Christmas?
Now, Lyanco’s father and agent is breaking his silence, adding fuel to the fire as a player who only arrived at St Mary’s a year-and-a-half ago weighs up a potential January departure.
“I spoke with him about some clubs,” says Vojnovic. “Including Vasco. (Lyanco) told me that he seems to have a good project for next year. And to look at (a move back to Brazil) with very good eyes.
“Of course, without ruling out other clubs that are interested in him.”
Vasco da Gama secured promotion back to Brazil’s top flight this season, finishing third in the second-tier. They also have one of the most exciting young talents in the whole of South America in their ranks; teenager Andrey Santos attracting attention from Barcelona, PSG and Newcastle United.
Newcastle are reportedly willing to spend around £30 million on the 18-year-old. Santos scored eight goals from a supposedly ‘defensive’ midfield role in 2022.
Lyanco, meanwhile, was left out of Southampton’s XI by new coach Nathan Jones on Saturday. He is now the club’s fourth choice centre-half; behind Mohammed Salisu, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Duje Caleta-Car.
Southampton struggling in Premier League
Jones’ era began with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. Southampton can consider themselves a little unfortunate, however, with Alisson Becker in superb form for the hosts.
“In the second half, I was really proud of how they reacted,” the former Luton Town boss says. “Really proud of the performance and how they went about it. Young players, game changers that we brought on. And, to be fair, Allison has made three absolutely wonderful saves to deny us. That’s the story of the game.
“(At half-time) I told them we were passive and we were giving world-class players too much time and space. So we didn’t do that in the second half. We were more aggressive.”
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