The 2015 summer transfer window was one where Southampton’s backline was once again targeted.
The previous summer, at left-back, the south coast club lost Luke Shaw to Manchester United, while this time round on the opposite side, it was Nathaniel Clyne, who went on to join Liverpool.
Expecting the departure of the latter, Southampton brought in Cedric Soares from Sporting Lisbon.
And when it finally came to replacing Clyne in the Saints’ starting XI, the 27-year-old did not disappoint.
From right-back, he went on to help Southampton secure a sixth-place finish with some very good performances, performances Chelsea might have taken notice of.
Because after that season and the one that followed, the Blues considered making a move for the Southampton man (Telegraph).
Factor in his displays in Euro 2016 with the champions Portugal in between, it was not hard to see why.
In the end, though, nothing materialised and it has been pretty much downhill for the former Sporting Lisbon man.
Having lost his starting spot to Yan Valery after a season and a half of fighting for Premier League survival, Cedric has since been shipped off to Inter Milan on loan.
And while that does not sound like things going downhill, moving from Southampton to one of the giants of European football, the Portugal international’s lack of game time at the San Siro suggests otherwise.
With Valery performing exceptionally well at Southampton under Ralph Hasenhuttl, though, Cedric does not appear to have a future at St. Mary’s either.
Even so, having paid less than £5m (BBC Sport) for him, Cedric has still been a good buy for the Saints.
A very capable full-back, if neither Southampton nor Inter Milan want Cedric, then the Euro 2016 winner will not be short of suitors come the summer.
Southampton fans, what are some of your standout memories of Cedric? Join the discussion by commenting below.
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