Chelsea reportedly re-ignite interest in Southampton’s Cedric Soares
By Chris Hughes
In a desperate attempt to strengthen before the window shuts, Chelsea have turned their heads once again to Southampton’s right-back Cedric.
It’s not the first time Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Portuguese international, with reports emerging as recently as last month suggesting that Conte wanted both Cedric and Ryan Bertrand at Stamford Bridge.
Despite some solid arrivals for hefty sums of money, Chelsea have only replaced what they’ve sold this summer, meaning their squad is no deeper ahead of a longer, grueling campaign that includes a return to Champions League football.
Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley will only act as a catalyst in speeding up their spending, with Antonio Conte keen to add two or three new facea before the transfer window closes in just over two weeks.
Therefore it comes as no surprise to see the Blues linked with Cedric again, after he was one of the shining stars in what was otherwise a fairly underwhelming campaign under Claude Puel.
The reported fee is only around £15 million however, and whilst that would see the Saints get treble what they paid for the 25-year-old it would also be a fraction of the amount of money Premier League sides have been splashing on full-backs this summer.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also been linked with a possible move to the Champions, with the right-wing-back role understandably Chelsea’s weakest link. Victor Moses has been a surprise package but in his place Antonio Conte has had to use other unnatural wing-backs, like Pedro.
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Cedric made 30 appearances last season – his most in a single campaign – whilst also boasting the most efficient cross accuracy in the entire Southampton roster.
His pace up and down the right side, combined with a good work ethic and and composure in the attacking-third make him a great alternative for Conte when searching for fresh talent to deepen his squad.
However Southampton’s stubbornness with the Virgil van Dijk transfer saga this summer may put the Blues off inquiring for the right-back, with the Saints understandably keen to keep their star defenders.