Former Juventus defender undergoes Southampton medical

Southampton are on track to add a defender to their squad for the remainder of the season with Martin Caceres set for a medical with the Premier League outfit, reports Sky Italia, via Football Italia.

Caceres, 29, has been a free agent since his contract expired with Juventus at the end of last season but has reportedly already seen prospective moves to Trabzonspor and Fiorentina collapse after failing medicals there.

AC Milan were also interested in landing the experienced defender but pulled out of the move due to Caceres’ excessive wage demands, with Southampton the latest club seemingly in pursuit of the former Uruguay international.

Claude Puel’s side are currently down to their bare bones at the heart of their defence after failing to find a replacement for captain Jose Fonte in the January transfer window. Coupled with a long-term injury to star man Virgil van Dijk, it leaves the Southampton boss with Maya Yoshida and 22-year-old Jack Stephens as the only recognised centre-backs.

However, while Caceres would bring experience to the team his long-term fitness raises questions having not featured competitively in over a year when he was stretchered off with a season-ending Achilles injury playing in a league game for Juventus (vs Genoa).

For more stats on Martin Caceres, click here to visit his WhoScored player page