Claude Puel hints at Caceres signing

Southampton boss Claude Puel has given a hint that his side are interested in signing former Juventus defender Martin Caceres this month.

The Uruguay international is currently a free-agent after having been released from Juve at the end of the previous campaign.

In his press conference prior to the Sunderland game, the Frenchman revealed that the club are in discussions with the versatile defender, but the move is not assured as of yet.

"In the next few days we see if he can bring something for the squad and if he signs. For the moment it is just speculation and we don't know," he told reporters.

"He is an international player and his quality and his spirit can be interesting. For the moment the priority is that he can sign for Southampton. For the moment it's not the reality."

The Saints are currently desperate to add a new defender to their backline after Virgil van Dijk sustained an ankle problem which has ruled him out for a couple of months.

Caceres does have the ability to play in central defence, and he could provide the necessary steel at the back as the Saints take on Manchester United in the EFL Cup final later in the month.

Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens have been deployed as the centre-half partnership in recent times while the unimpressive Florin Gardos remains in the wings.