Cedric Soares is a smart signing for Arsenal (Getty Images)
According to a recent report from the Calciomercato, Southampton are planning to cash in on right-back Cedric Soares when he returns from his loan spell at Inter Milan.
The Portuguese international was shipped out on loan by manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in January but the Serie A giants are unwilling to trigger the buy clause in the deal after the 27-year-old’s failure to establish himself as a first-team regular at the San Siro.
Inter do not want to spend €11 million on a player who they think won’t be much of an upgrade on their existing options. (h/t Calciomercato)
The Euro 2016 winning right-back has been deemed surplus to the demands at St.Mary’s, with new manager Hasenhuttl preferring youngster Yan Valery in a right wing-back role.
The French starlet has really come of age for the Saints this season and has quickly established himself as the first-choice following a string of wonderful performances in the Premier League.
Southampton were languishing in the bottom three when Hasenhuttl took charge but the former RB Leipzig boss has managed to turn the club’s fortunes around with his charismatic stewardship and brave decision-making.
The Saints have evidently shown a lot of fight and character in recent months, winning 6 of their 13 games in the Premier League since the turn of the year and settling for draws in a further 3. As things stand, the Saints find themselves 16th in the standings, 5 five clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand.
To put things into perspective, there are multiple reasons why Southampton should not have second thoughts about getting Soares off their books permanently.
The 27-year-old was an instant hit on the south coast when he made his move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2015. However, his performances haven’t quite been the same over the last couple of seasons and his consistency levels have dipped significantly.
Soares’ progress has, indeed, stalled over the past two campaigns, with the Portuguese international making repetitive mistakes in marking players in defensive situations, while his final ball in the attacking third has often left a lot to be desired.
On the contrary, Valery has enjoyed a fruitful and a consistent run in the first-team and has scored goals against giants like Man United and Spurs, which speaks volumes of his big-game temperament and rapid progress at the St.Mary’s.
With his bravery, fearlessness and remarkable speed of thought, the Frenchman has made the right wing-back position his own and he deserves to continue in that role for the upcoming season as well.
Moreover, Southampton have adopted a more cautious approach in the transfer market under Hasenhuttl, as evident from the Austrian’s dealing in the January window.
Known for his ability to nurture young talents and transform them into world-beaters, Hasenhuttl has not hesitated to get underperformers like Wesley Hoedt, Manolo Gabbiadini and Steven Davis off the books, while also favouring academy talents like Valery, Josh Sims and James Ward-Prowse.
It is necessary for the Saints to adopt a different transfer policy in the summer and look for Bargain deals and free agents in the market after the failure of big-money arrivals like Sofiane Boufal, Guido Carrillo and Mohamed Elyounoussi to make an impact in the Premier League.
Southampton seem to have adopted a sell-before-buy policy and Cedric Soares apparently has no future at St.Mary’s under Hasenhuttl.
Offloading him would allow the Saints to raise some valuable funds, which in turn, would help them improve other areas of the pitch, as the manager looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a top-ten finish in the Premier League next season.
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Back in January, The Daily Echo reported that the Saints were tracking Genk’s right wing-back Joakim Mahele, though a move failed to materialize. With Hasenhuttl preferring a back-three system, the Dane would be a better fit for his philosophy as compared to the slow and lethargic Soares.
Even if they do not go back for him in the summer, the Saints should not hesitate to get Soares off their books as soon as possible.