Vignal has signed a two-year deal at Fratton Park and joins Newcastle pair Laurent Robert and Andy O’Brien and Colombian midfielder John Viafara as Perrin’s new captures for a combined outlay of around £3m.

Vignal arrives on a free transfer but Liverpool, who loaned him out last season to Scottish champions Rangers, are likely to be due a payment if the left-back makes an agreed number of Premiership appearances.

Now Perrin will address the need to replace Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Pompey’s top scorer for the past two seasons who completed a £7.5m move to Middlesbrough at the weekend, and Wanchope looks the ideal candidate.

The big Costa Rican looks set to leave Malaga on a free transfer and already has a reputation for unsettling Premiership defences.

Perrin has already told inquirers: “We want Paulo to replace Yakubu.”

Although still keen to recall the experienced defender David Unsworth from last season’s loan at Ipswich, Perrin clearly views Vignal as a smart signing.

Vignal, 24, made only 14 first-team appearances for Liverpool in a four-season spell after former manager Gerard Houllier sanctioned a £500,000 deal.

After loan spells at Espanyol and Rennes, Vignal became a regular at Ibrox and was offered a permanent contract after scoring in a 2-0 local derby win over Celtic.

However, he preferred to join fellow countrymen, Perrin and Robert at Pompey, and chairman Milan Mandaric said: “We are very pleased to have made another quality signing who can play in a number of positions.”

Chief executive Peter Storrie said: “He came into his own at Rangers and there were a few clubs after him.

“Although he is ostensibly a defender he likes to get forward and will be a great asset.”