PARMA's attempted hijack of Southampton's deadline day deal for defender Abakar Sylla also collapsed ahead of the transfer window closing.

Sylla had been in talks with Saints and Strasbourg about a potential deadline day loan, with a potential option to buy inserted in the deal.

Sylla, 22, had agreed to move to Saints before executing a last-minute U-turn, instead joining Italian Serie A side Parma in the final few hours.

Saints felt they had been let down by the player and his agent and failed to sign a centre-back in his place with limited time left in the window. 

The young defender, who had fallen down the pecking order at Strasbourg, seemed destined for a temporary move to Parma.

However, the deal ultimately failed to materialize due to time constraints. L’Équipe have revealed that all the paperwork was signed.

The move to Parma was essentially complete—except for the final contract. Sylla was en route to finalize the transfer but arrived too late to sign.

It means he remains in Alsace for the time being, where he will play alongside former Saints starlet Sam Amo-Ameyaw, 18.

The young winger departed Saints in a deadline day deal worth up to €10million and signed a five-year contract with the BlueCo-owned club.