According to reports from Mirror Football this afternoon, Southampton have agreed a £3.5million fee for Sporting Lisbon defender Cedric Soares.
The 23 year-old, who broke into the Portugal national team earlier this season after amassing a rather outrageous 72 caps at youth level, is believed to be a budget replacement for England international Nathaniel Clyne.
The former Crystal Palace youngster has just come to the end of a strong campaign at St. Mary’s, averaging the fifth-most tackles per match, 3.3, of any Premier League player as part of a Saints defence who claimed the second-best goals conceded record in the division.
That, in combination with his contract expiring at the end of next season, has generated plenty of interest in the 24 year-old. As This Is Futbol revealed yesterday, Clyne’s been mooted as a potential replacement for Rafael at Manchester United, whilst Liverpool are set to make an improvement on the £10million offer that Southampton rejected last week.
So today’s news of Ronald Koeman’s side signing a potential replacement in Soares will boost both clubs in their pursuits of the Three Lions starlet.
It’s believed Southampton are prepared to sell for around £15million.