Bacary Sagna, who has been released by Manchester City, is reportedly on the radar of Southampton. Sagna’s contract has come to an end and City has decided not to offer him a new one. The 34-year-old right back is still a great option and the Saints are reportedly considering a move for him.
Sagna arrived at England in 2007 to play for Arsenal. After spending seven years with the Gunners the defender moved to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer in 2014. Across these years, Sagna has been pretty consistent for both the clubs and has contributed in every season. But after the arrival of Pep Guardiola, his game numbers have reduced drastically and he has been apparently told that he is surplus to requirements at the club.
Finding a new clubs won’t be a problem for him but his wages of £85,000 per week might create some problems. The Saints are not a club who spend lavishly on their players and the veteran right back might have to take a pay cut to remain in the English Premier League.
In Cedric Soares, Southampton have one of the most promising right backs of the Premier League. The Portuguese has risen from strength to strength and even when the Saints have not been able to perform to their potential in the recent season, the defender has been a consistent performer.
His performance on the right side has earned him accolades and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly been taken aback by his performances and wants to add him to bolster his defensive parts.
Given Sagna’s versatility, Claude Puel can also use him in a number of positions including centre back and left back. The French man has the experience to fill in this positions and in a moment of crisis, he can provide Puel with a variety of options.
In his Arsenal days, the right back used to be a menace to the opposition defenders. The 34-year-old had used his aerial ability with excellence and his marauding runs through the flanks was a delight to watch. Off late he has also excelled in the centre of defence and this versatility is what makes him an exciting addition even at his age.
Overall, Sagna still has the firepower in him and can be a very good backup option for Puel. He can be a valuable asset on and off the field as his ample Premier League experience can be of help to the Saints next season.
