Chelsea will have to reportedly shell out a sum in excess of £20 million in order to lure Cedric Soares from Southampton
According to a report by Evening Standard, Southampton are willing to let Cedric Soares join Chelsea only if they pay more than £20 million this summer. It is understood that the Blues are ready to part with about £15 million – £20 million to secure the service of Soares, but it remains to be seen if they will go higher.
Soares, who has three years left on his current contract with Southampton, has progressed rapidly into becoming one of the Premier League’s best full-backs. Since he joined the Saints in 2015, he went on to establish himself as a top performer for the club. Additionally, his solid displays have also made him the first-choice right-back for Portugal.
Soares made 24 Premier League appearances in his debut season and also helped Southampton to a sixth-placed finish, along with securing a place in the group stages of the Europa League.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that so many top clubs are battling it out for his signature. Soares has been linked with some of the football world’s biggest names – the likes of Barcelona and Juventus, to name a few. With Chelsea also in the fray, the defender will have to make a tough decision, if he does choose to exit.
The opportunity to join Chelsea though, could prove to be particularly enticing for Soares. The Blues currently have only Victor Moses as an option for a right-back and have been trying to get reinforcements this summer. Their pursuits have not yielded results, meaning the Portuguese defender could cement a spot for himself in the first-team.
However, like every other season, several of Southampton’s top players are being linked with big clubs. They will be determined to hold on to as many players as they can, which could explain them demanding a higher price for Soares.
With that being said, the Blues are desperate for quality addition in their back line after a humiliating opening day defeat to Burnley, meaning they might just come through with the extra cash. Southampton can benefit from that since it will provide them with greater disposable income to procure top quality players this summer.