OPINION
Mauricio Pochettino would finally solve his right-back woes by pushing Chelsea aside to sign Southampton defender Cedric Soares this summer.
The Daily Mirror claim Antonio Conte’s side are eyeing a move for the 25-year-old ace, who was part of the Portugal side that held aloft the Euro 2016 trophy last summer in France.
It is said that Chelsea missed out on signing Danilo from Real Madrid who has instead joined Man City, while Joao Cancelo of Valencia is another option. But Cedric is Conte’s choice to provide Victor Moses with competition.
The report claims that the German-born defender is set to be the subject of a £15million offer from Chelsea, with Barcelona also keen to sign the Southampton ace.
Mauricio Pochettino is yet to replace the £54million loss of Kyle Walker, who joined Premier League giants Manchester City earlier this summer.
It saw Tottenham academy product Kyle Walker-Peters start on the right side of defence on Sunday against Newcastle at St. James’ Park, with Kieran Trippier sidelined with an ankle injury.
Although 20-year-old Walker-Peters impressed, he is still largely unproven in the Premier League and is not considered ready for Champions League football just yet.
With Trippier still injured, it has shown the lack of cover Spurs have on the right side of defence and a replacement for Walker is a necessity rather than a luxury.
Cedric has continued to prove to be one of Southampton’s most consistent performers, with such displays making him Portugal’s number-one right-back over the likes of Ricardo Pereira and Joao Cancelo.
Last season, the defender made 30 Premier League appearances for the Saints and would have played all of them if he had not suffered a foot injury towards the start of the campaign.
Known for his defensive rigidity, Cedric is also more than willing to get forward and join the attack and would be able to ply his trade in Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 system or be used as a wing-back if Spurs play with three defenders.
Proven in the Premier League and against the world’s best after lifting the Euro 2016 trophy, Cedric would be a top replacement for Walker as Spurs look to go one better in the top flight of English football and the Champions League.