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Saints Chasing Free Agent Central Defender

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.

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