This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to TEAMtalk, Wolverhampton Wanderers are one three Premier League clubs keen on signing Cedric Soares with the Southampton defender unwilling to remain on the south coast past this season.
It is a move that could once again hinge on super-agent Jorge Mendes.
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What’s the word?
The report suggests that Wolves will have to battle both West Ham and Arsenal for the 28-year-old right-back, and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the club could well get him on a cut-rate deal in January.
Soares has already claimed that his time is up at St Mary’s Stadium with expected to leave for free in summer as he is seemingly out of favour with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, playing just five times this campaign.
The long-serving defender is a client of Mendes, who has his fingers in many pies at Molineux, and he’d be the umpteenth member of the Portuguese contingent at the club if he were to indeed join.
Meddling Mendes
On the face of it, Soares, who is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, would be a very shrewd acquisition – he has a European Championship to his name, 33 caps, and over 100 appearances in the English top-flight. He could well be a viable competitor to Matt Doherty.
However, his game time would undoubtedly be slim as the Irishman has formed a formidable partnership along the right flank with Adama Traore as Wolves have moved up into fifth in the Premier League standings.
The club clearly have a good relationship with Mendes, but that doesn’t mean they should opt for every single player of his that becomes available.
Southampton have been abysmal for the past year or so, yet, Soares cannot buy a game. He was sent out on loan to Inter Milan last season, and now Yan Valery has cemented his spot as first-choice at the club having played seven matches.
Nuno Santo should avoid making a move for a 28-year-old that isn’t likely to become a regular option for the west Midlanders.
In other news… One Wolves starlet has thrown his name into the spotlight for one key reason.
