RALPH Hasenhuttl reportedly wanted to sign defender Marc Guehi last summer – before Saints landed Lyanco.

Saints were in the market for a new centre-back with Jannik Vestergaard expected to leave following the European Championships.

The Dane did eventually move on to Leicester City mid-August, before Lyanco arrived from Torino later that month for a reported fee of around £6.5million.

The Brazilian signed a four-year deal at Staplewood Campus and has amassed 25 appearances, including 21 in the Premier League.

However, according to a report by The Athletic, Hasenhuttl wanted to sign Chelsea and now England centre-back Guehi before he moved to Crystal Palace.

The 22-year-old helped the Eagles keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Saints on Saturday, which saw Lyanco dispossessed by Wilfried Zaha for the only goal.

Guehi, who had excelled on loan at Swansea City in the Championship, moved from Chelsea to Palace for over £20million and was likely out of the price range.

His form for the South London outfit was rewarded by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate with a debut in March this year - and he could head to the World Cup.

Dynel Simeu, 20, and Tino Livramento, 19, joined Saints from Chelsea’s Cobham-based academy that same summer, while other Blues teens joined clubs across England. 

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