Wolves are in talks with Lens over a £16 million deal for long-term target Kevin Danso.

Vitor Pereira, the Wolves head coach, wants to make Danso his second January signing in another major addition for the Premier League strugglers.

Danso, an Austrian international, has been a primary target for Wolves this month as they move to strengthen their centre-back options.

After capturing Emmanuel Agbadou from Reims for an initial £16 million, Wolves are now ramping up negotiations with Ligue 1 club Lens for Danso.

Wolves have the second-worst defensive record in the top division, conceding 52 goals.

After the sale of former captain Maximilian Kilman to West Ham for £40 million in July, and then a subsequent season-ending injury to Colombia international Yerson Mosquera, Wolves had identified centre-back as an area to address in this window.

Danso has been on Wolves’ radar for more than a year and a deal could be completed before the weekend.

The 26-year-old has prior Premier League experience after spending the 2019-20 season on loan at Southampton.

He also started in two of Austria’s four matches at last year’s European Championship.

Pereira is keen to add a powerful midfielder to his squad before the transfer window closes on Monday, with uncertainty still surrounding the future of Mario Lemina.

He said: “I’m very happy with the players we have, but we need more solutions in midfield and maybe a defender.

“I hope we’re closer to making new signings, we’re working and I hope before the market closes we can get one or two in.”

Wolves have 16 points from 23 matches and are in the relegation zone before Saturday’s derby with Aston Villa.