The Athletic’s Southampton correspondent Carl Anka has provided a fresh update on the future of Cedric Soares.
Before Anka’s Q & A session on Friday afternoon ahead of the trip to Leicester, it seemed like common knowledge that the Portugal international was set to leave St Mary’s at the end of the campaign following an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, in which he revealed his intentions to depart at the end of his contract.
However, Anka has breathed new life into the saga surrounding the former Sporting Lisbon man.
What did he say?
When asked if, with Cedric ‘definitely’ leaving, supporters could expect long-term additions at full-back, Anka wrote:
“So here’s a thing… Cedric isn’t DEFINITELY leaving. Yesterday Hasenhuttl spoke of “possibilities” regarding contracts.
“I think any full backs signed this Jan, or indeed in the summer will be of First Team Quality so they can take over next season. But, it’s worth carrying that in the back of your mind.”
Breathes fresh life into speculation surrounding Cedric’s future
As aforesaid, it did seem like a clear-cut thing that the 28-year-old would be leaving the Saints when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign, although Anka’s response has breathed new life into the speculation.
The Athletic reporter states that Hasenhuttl spoke of ‘possibilities’ regarding contracts, so could we see Cedric actually put pen to paper on fresh terms?
Discussing that would be speculative, something that we won’t do. However, what isn’t speculative is the fact that Anka has made what appeared to be a set-in-stone situation now seem like something that could yet be a flexible one.
Cedric has made 13 Premier League appearances this season, and only he and Yan Valery are at Hasenhuttl’s disposal in terms of senior right-backs, so the Portugal international is a vital member of the squad as things stand – unless another right-back is signed, he remains a key man under the Austrian coach.
Anka’s little nugget of information has well and truly opened up the case regarding Cedric.
In other news, this one word from Carl Anka has added a new dimension to the exit talk surrounding Che Adams…