Journalist Tom Barclay has described Southampton defender Tino Livramento as a "rare talent" and reckons that he can help Southampton flourish at both ends of the pitch.

Livramento has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Saints, who're winless from their opening seven and sit just one point above the relegation-zone.

What's the latest news with Livramento?

Prior to his £5m move from Chelsea in the summer, the 18-year-old hadn't made an appearance in first-team football, with the closest he got to senior action coming for Chelsea Under-23s in the EFL Trophy in recent seasons.

Livramento had been with the Blues since he was a youngster but had to settle for nothing more than a few unused substitute appearances before making the switch to St Mary's.

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ENTER GIVEAWAY

But you wouldn't know that this is the right-back's first season in professional football having started each of Southampton's seven Premier League games and he has been in simply brilliant form.

Livramento was Chelsea's academy player of the year last season and marked his swift return to Stamford Bridge by winning the penalty for James Ward-Prowse's equaliser on Saturday.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel said after the 3-1 victory that Chelsea did everything they could to try and keep the teenager in West London, but he opted to enhance his first-team opportunities by moving down south.

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And after high praise from the German, Barclay has waxed lyrical over the defender, who he reckons can continue to add an extra dimension to Southampton's attack.

What did Barclay say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "So, from what we've seen so far, Livramento is such an explosive, brilliant, rare talent.

"He's also offering a lot going forward in terms of the team's output and talk about trying to score goals and create goals, he can be that."

Was it a mistake from Chelsea letting him go?

Only time will tell, but with captain Cesar Azpilicueta turning 33 in August, Livramento could have been a great option for Tuchel next season.

It must be remembered that he's only 18 and seven matches into his first-team career, but he's already showing signs of a player that could go to the very top, so don't be surprised to see the Londoners active the £25m buyback clause they inserted into Livramento's deal sooner rather than later.