After selling Jose Fonte to West Ham United, and with Virgil van Dijk in danger of missing the rest of the season due to an ankle injury, Southampton addressed their need to bolster their options in central defence with the signing of free agent Martin Caceres.
The Uruguayan international, who was released by Juventus at the end of the 2015/16 season, has joined Saints on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Executive Director of Football Les Reed outlined some of the qualities that Caceres will bring to the Southampton squad, while also revealing the centre-back went through an exhaustive medical before signing:
“In a tough situation for us, losing Virgil to injury, he will bring experience, talent and character. He has played in the biggest of games and will provide depth to our squad. Two days of extensive medicals and tough fitness tests have further demonstrated his desire and positive personality. I know Martin can’t wait to start playing again.”
The History
Born in Montevideo, Caceres started out with his hometown club Defensor Sporting, progressing through the youth ranks to the first-team.
He made 26 appearances during the 2006/07 season, scoring four goals, before moving to Spanish side Villarreal in the summer of 2007.
Caceres spent the 2007/08 campaign on loan at fellow La Liga side Recreativo though, scoring two goals in 34 matches, before joining Barcelona in June 2008 for a reported transfer fee of €16.5 million.
The Uruguayan failed to really establish himself in the first-team squad, though, managing just 13 league appearances in 2008/09, before joining Juventus on loan.
The defender made 15 league appearances during the 2009/10 campaign, registering a goal and two assists, before spending the 2010/11 season on loan at Sevilla, where he totalled one goal and four assists in 25 league outings.
In May 2011, Caceres made a permanent move to Sevilla for a fee reportedly worth up to €4.5 million.
But despite playing 14 league matches during the first half of the 2011/12 campaign, registering a goal and an assist, Caceres was sent out on loan to Juventus.
He made 11 league appearances for the Italian giants, scoring one goal, before making the move permanent in the summer of 2012.
In the following four seasons, Caceres would rack up 51 league appearances, managing two goals and one assist, with a series of injuries leading to his contract not being renewed.
Caceres played 11 times for Uruguay’s U20s before making his senior debut against South Africa in September 2007.
He was part of the squad for the 2010 and 2014 World Cup campaigns, while he was a key player for the 2011 Copa America winning side.
The 29-year-old currently has 68 caps to his name, along with three goals, although he hasn’t played for his country since November 2015.
The Prospects
Given the paucity of options currently available to Southampton manager Claude Puel in central defence, with Maya Yoshida and youngster Jack Stephens the current first choice pairing, Caceres is almost certain to claim a starting berth.
Florin Gardos is the only other recognised centre-back on the books at St Mary’s, and he’s only just coming back from a long-term knee injury.
Yoshida and Stephens did struggle in their first two starts together, which saw Saints lose 2-1 to Swansea City, and 3-1 to West Ham United, although they were able to keep a clean sheet in the 4-0 win over Sunderland and at Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final.
Much will depend on the fitness levels of Caceres, who hasn’t played competitively since last season, and has suffered a number of serious injuries during his career.
But given Southampton don’t play in the league again until March 4, when they travel to Watford, the Uruguayan will be granted time to build up his fitness and prove that he can be in contention, with run-outs for the Premier League 2 squad a likely first step.
Given his pedigree, it’s likely he’ll be handed opportunities to start at St Mary’s once he’s up to speed, particularly if the performance levels of Yoshida or Stephens dip.
Caceres, whose qualities include his physicality, intensity and ability to thrive in individual duels, will offer much-needed depth in the centre-back position, then.
He has also played in both full-back positions, particularly for his country, although it’s less likely he’ll be needed to cover those positions at St Mary’s.
It’s expected he’ll be handed a price tag of 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), but with Cedric Soares available at 4.8, that may limit any interest in the Uruguayan.
Yoshida and Stephens are even friendlier on the budget at 4.2 and 4.0 respectively, with the former perhaps looking the safest pick of the three centre-backs.
Southampton’s short-term schedule (wat, MUN, tot) is pretty testing, with home fixtures against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace in Gameweeks 30 and 31 far more appealing.
Saints defenders may come onto our radars at that point, although the mixed run all the way through to the end of the season may limit our interest in all Saints’ assets, despite the guarantee of at least one double Gameweek – with their home fixture against Arsenal needing to be rearranged.
Given Caceres’ pedigree, there’s little doubting the quality he should bring to Puel’s side, while his experience should also prove to be invaluable, particularly in the absence of the departed Fonte and the injured van Dijk.
But with fitness concerns, a mixed fixture list and the likelihood of there being cheaper routes into the Southampton defence, it’s unlikely he’ll impact as a Fantasy asset. But should he add further resilience to Puel’s backline, he will surely boost the stock of those around him – notably the Yoshida option.
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