If the latest reports are to be believed, Celtic are looking forward to signing Southampton’s defender Martin Caceres in the summer as the Uruguayan international is believed to be ready quit St. Mary’s owing to the lack of game time.
Caceres could muster merely one appearance for the Saints in the 2016-17 campaign of the English Premier League as Southampton impressed in the English top division and finished eighth on the league chart with 46 points. Claude Puel was more inclined towards the promotion of the youngsters he had at his disposal and this, in turn, pushed the 30-year-old defender to fall behind in the pecking order.
Caceres was signed on a free transfer by Southampton in February but failed to construct a strong footing for himself. He is a proven international player with a fine reputation, having plied his trade for European heavyweights like Juventus and Barcelona. It was surprising to see why the Saints didn’t use him on a regular basis, and despite the apparent lack of game time under his belt during the season which just transpired, Caceres would be a wanted commodity for many clubs, particularly owing to the fact that he becomes a free agent in the summer.
Celtic managed to clinch a domestic treble under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers as the Hoops successfully lifted the League Cup, Scottish Premiership as well as the Scottish Cup and it is about time that the Glasgow giants look forward to ink a strong name for themselves in the Champions League.
The 2016-17 campaign was a productive one for the Celts and it would be important for them to carry their momentum into the coming periods. Rodgers isn’t unfamiliar to the perception that he would need players who have immense experience under their belt and have tasted the grandeur of the elite continental competition and someone like Caceres, who is a Champions League winner with Barcelona, would perfectly fit the bill.
Caceres is a fine central defender who has the versatility of plying his trade at the right-back slot as well. He is renowned for being an excellent passer of the ball, someone who barely loses possession and never refrains from making sharp tackles and interceptions.
Further, he is an attractive prospect and would enable Celtic in bringing more quality players if the deal involving him materialises. He is strong, composed and has the requisite technical edge and would hand Rodgers an excellent opportunity to knit a fine balance between the youth prospects and the experienced veterans whilst chalking out his tactical nous in the coming seasons.
