Barcelona are preparing to make a move for impressive Southampton defender Cedric Soares after missing out on their primary target Hector Bellerin, according to Goal.
The Spaniard is expected to sign a new long-term deal with Arsenal worth £100,000-a-week and snub the advances of Barcelona, the club he began his career at as a junior.
This has forced Barcelona to target other players, one of which is Cedric Soares. The Catalan side had scouts present for Southampton’s recent Europa League clash with Inter Milan but a persistent foot injury kept Cedric out of action.
Since joining the Saints in the summer of 2015 in a £4.7m deal from Sporting Lisbon, the 25-year-old has developed into one of the top right-backs in the Premier League and after impressing for Portugal en route to their Euro 2016 triumph, was rewarded with a new and improved contract back in August to fend off potential suitors.
However, it remains difficult to say not a club of Barcelona’s stature. They had a chance to sign Cedric while he was at Sporting but opted to sign Aleix Vidal from Sevilla which has turned out to be the wrong move. Vidal has failed to adapt to life at Barcelona which has forced them to have Sergi Roberto deputise at right-back for the time being.
No doubt if Barcelona come calling in January, it would take a King’s ransom to prise Cedric Soares away from St. Mary’s.
