AC Milan are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Southampton right-back Cedric Soares in the January transfer window.
CalcioMercato report that the seven-time European champions winners are interested in signing a new right-back in the New Year with Cedric’s contract with Southampton expiring next summer, meaning that the defender could be sold for a cut-price deal.
The 29-year-old defender last year spent half a season out on loan with Milan’s city rivals Inter, though the Portuguese international was hardly used by the Serie A side with stats from Transfermarkt showing that the former Sporting Lisbon fullback played just over 500 minutes for the club.
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And this season has somewhat seen a familiar story with Cedric, with stats from Transfermarkt showing that the right-back has been in-and-out of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s starting XI for the majority of the campaign, making just seven Premier League appearances.
With a Transfermarkt valuation of £10.8m and The Mirror reporting via HITC that Southampton are looking at signing a right-back in the January transfer window, the sale of Cedric before the expiration of his contract could be a smart move for the Saints in a financial sense and squad point of view.
Indeed, the money made from any sale of Cedric will be a massive financial boost for the Saints which can directly be used to find a replacement for the defender that has spent nearly five years with the south coast side.
Hasenhuttl is seemingly keen on replacing the old guard with new blood in the Southampton first-team, and with Cedric seemingly keen on leaving the club within the next few months, letting the defender leave for cold hard cash instead of for free will be a smart move from the club.
