Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Southampton defender Cedric Soares in the summer transfer window.
It has been reported that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochetino is considering signing the right-back as a replacement for Manchester City target Kyle Walker.
Soares joined Southampton from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2015 for a transfer fee reported by The Mirror to be worth £4.7 million.
The Portugal international right-back has established himself as an important player for the Saints over the past two seasons.
Walker is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and replacing the England international would be tough for any player.
Would Soares be a good signing for Spurs? What do the stats say?
| Season | Passing Accuracy | Tackles Won/Game | Interceptions Won/Game | Outfielder Blocks/Game | Effective Clearances/Game | Chances created/Game | Crossing Accuracy | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cédric Soares | 2016-2017 | 74% | 2.13 | 1.1 | 0.23 | 2.37 | 1.3 | 30% | 30 | 2,520 |
| Cédric Soares | 2015-2016 | 68% | 2.29 | 2.21 | 0.46 | 1.96 | 1.08 | 27% | 24 | 1,970 |
As the above Opta Stats table shows, Soares has not exactly been ‘great’ for Southampton. While the 25-year-old’s passing accuracy is laudable enough, at least last season, his crosses do need to improve for him to step up to Spurs’ level.
Stats, though, do not always tell the entire story. Soares is a decent defender, and playing under a brilliant manager such as Pochettino could only help him improve his game.
The Euro 2016 winner is also at the right age to step up to a big club and has two years’ experience in the Premier League.
Moreover, Tottenham have done transfer business with Southampton before, and that could make it easier for the North London outfit to strike a deal with the Saints sooner rather than later.
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