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Saints Chasing Free Agent Central Defender
Monday, 12th Sep 2016 09:17

The transfer window may now be closed but clubs are still able to sign players who are not contracted to any club and are free agents.

Saints are reportedly chasing Martin Caaceres who was released by Juventus in the summer.

The Uruguayan central defender is still only 29 but has been let go by the Italian club after making only 51 league appearances in four seasons since rejoining Juve permanently back in the summer of 2012.

During that time he has had a series of injuries that have sidelined him, indeed he has barely played in the last two seasons.

Although Caceres is primarily a central defender he can also operate on either side of the defence as a full back

That makes him a good choice for Saints who need quality in defence having little cover in either the centre or right back should the first choice players become injured.

But Saints will face competition for his signature, Chelsea are the main club linked with Antonio Conte having worked with the player at Juventus, after the Blues an orderly queue seems to be forming with Saints, Sunderland, Swansea and West Brom also said to be interested.

Chelsea would appear favourites, however it will be down as to whether the player himself is looking for game time or the highest wage, if it is game time then Saints could be a good option as he will get the chance to rehabilitate himself after so little action recently and then push for a place in the starting line up, it will also offer him European competition.

The optimist in me suggests that given the fact that we appeared to have shown little appetite for making a central defensive signing in the wndow, that this might be a deal that Saints are a lot more down the line with than the newspaper headlines suggest.

Photo: Action Images



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vanmans added 09:41 - Sep 12
Can he play as a Striker? Probably wouldn't want to pay his wages.
1

JSmith added 10:01 - Sep 12
If we do get this acquisition it will be a great piece of business and a massive upgrade on Yoshida, he could even push for a starting place and good replace Fonte. Also, if God forbid VVD or Fonte do get injured he will fill the void left by them. He can also play RB which I feel we need strengthening in as Cedric last year was poor and his performances were on a par with Martina's, in these opening four games has continued to disappoint so really excited by this prospect if this report is true of course. All we need now is our strikers to be firing on all cylinders and a top half finish and a Cup run is well on the cards
1

highfield49 added 10:10 - Sep 12
Looks like an excellent signing. At the current rate of yellow cards Yoshi will in line for a game soon anyway.
1

Santos added 10:17 - Sep 12
Has finally someone woken to the fact that we need an additional CB. The whole of the summer this site and many others have been saying we needed one. Really this strikes me as a bit desperate when we had all that time in the summer to sort it. I know stats are not everything but this guy seems a little short for a CB at 5/11 assume he is fast and reads the game well to make up or it. Here's hoping!!!
5

SanMarco added 12:12 - Sep 12
If we are grubbing around now looking for out-of-contract centre-backs then a serious mistake has been made - as Santos says, we all knew about this issue and had known about it for months.
4

saintmark1976 added 13:37 - Sep 12
So we are now reduced to looking at another injury prone player who has hardly played for two years. Sorry, but I thought we had enough of those already.

As SanMarco suggests(and much like the stricker issue) we all have known about the lack of central defender cover for months. All that is except, once again the management.

If this suggestion of our interest in this player is correct then all I can say is that once again we are into "Roy of the Rovers" territory". It's getting to a point where you really could not make it up anymore.
3

BoondockSaint added 14:22 - Sep 12
No wonder we have trouble keeping or signing players! We now look like a real down-market team. As you all say, we knew we needed to fill this position since the end of last season, but Les won't spend the money and is now like the miser who waits until the after Christmas sales to see what he can get in the return bins and "restocked Items" aisle.

2

Ali_Diarea added 14:47 - Sep 12
We definitely have a thing for injured players...
3


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