Fulham have made official contact to sign Sao Paulo defender Luizao, according to a Brazilian outlet.

The Lowdown: Luizao contract running out

The 20-year-old has now entered the final six months of his contract with the Serie A outfit, and as a result of his deal expiring on January 31, is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any potential suitors.

The centre-back has been a bit-part player for Sao Paulo in recent times, only making five league appearances last season, and therefore has been linked with a summer move away from Rogerio Ceni’s side, with one Premier League name in particular cropping up.

The Latest: Fulham make contact

Brazilian website Globo Esporte (via Sport Witness) report that three European clubs have ‘made approaches’ for Luizao to discover more information on his transfer situation, with Fulham, alongside Benfica and Porto, among those name-checked.

It’s stated that the Cottagers ‘aren’t only interested in signing him as a free agent next year’, but have ‘checked the possibility of a negotiation’ during the current window.

The Verdict: One for the future

Marco Silva has already made six summer signings, with Shane Duffy the latest new arrival to walk through the doors, and Luizao would be a bargain to follow in his footsteps and secure on a cut-price deal.

The 6 foot 1 colossus is still at such a young age and the boss has always been one to throw up and coming talents into his squad - there’s no reason as to why he couldn’t do the same with this exciting prospect.

Luizao could bring his height and athleticism to the heart of Silva’s backline, attributes that suit the style of play in the Premier League, and could prove to be a clever signing for the club in the long-term.