SOUTHAMPTON had been set to sign Loubadhe Abakar Sylla on loan from Strasbourg but the move sensationally fell through following a late Parma effort to sign him.
Southampton had been keen to sign Sylla on loan with an option to make the deal permanent for roughly £15 million in the summer. This follows Jack Stephens and Taylor Harwood-Bellis injuries in the Ipswich game.
Sylla is a left footed defender, which is an area that Saints are lacking in this season. It was believed that the Nigerian was a perfect fit for Juric’s system.
However a last minute bid from Seria A side Parma to sign Sylla was enough to persuade the player to not sign for the Saints this window.
Southampton are now short in the left back department, which will most likely only add to their defensive misery this season, with the side looking destined for relegation back to the Championship this season.
In a crucial twist to the story, the Parma loan deal has also fallen through with Sylla now set to remain at Strasbourg for the rest of the season, meaning he has returned back to a side where he hasn’t started since November.
