LYANCO’S agent and father has spoken out and claimed he has chatted with his son after reports emerged last week of potential interest in a move back to Brazil.

South American football reporter Jorge Nicola claimed the 25-year-old was considering a move to his home country in 2023 with Botafogo and Vasco da Gama named as interested.

Lyanco has played seven times in the Premier League this campaign but only two of those have been starts – filling in for injuries versus Arsenal and Crystal Palace.

Supporters were impressed with his combative performance against the Gunners, but his only other starts have come against League One opposition in the EFL Cup.

Read more: Jones will be keen to make early Premier League impression - could be key

“He’s doing well, he’s in his seventh season at a top level, spending time in Italy and England," Marcelo Vojnovic, his father said, as reported by Brazilian media outlet Atencao Vascainos and in quotes translated by Hampshire Live. 

Daily Echo:

"He does think about returning to Brazil, but that does depend on which club would make Southampton a proposal. In case it is an interesting project, he would return.

“He can play in a big European club but he sees the Brazilian league as a really good league, which would open the door for him to return to the Brazil national team, by playing for a Brazilian club.”

He added: “I spoke to him about the interest of some clubs, one of them being Vasco and he said (Vasco) appears to have a good project next year (following their promotion to the top division).

“He would (be open to) look at that but wouldn’t discard any other clubs that are also interested in him.”

Lyanco has been learning English since a move from Italian side Torino last summer and gave his first interview in English media to the Daily Echo in August.

During that conversation, he told us: “My dream before was to play in the Premier League, so I worked every day for this. I like playing in the Premier League.”

“I love this, I love playing for Southampton. I am a fan so I play for them, I love to play for Southampton’s shirt, the colour and I like the fans,” Lyanco added.

Deadline day leaver Oriol Romeu was key to Lyanco in order to help him communicate with his teammates but he will have been boosted by the arrival of Nathan Jones.

The new manager speaks Spanish after a stint in the country as a player, and will get a good look at Lyanco with both Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu away with their countries for the World Cup.

Lyanco played the final 18 minutes of Jones's first match as boss, in a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

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