Southampton needs to address alarming slump

Southampton have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the Premier League this season. However, of late in the Premier League they have been consistent, consistently bad that is.

The Saints have fallen down the table to 13th place after suffering six defeats in their last seven games in the top-flight. The defeats even mean Claude Puel’s side are being considered as outsiders for relegation this season, as they are now just seven points clear of the drop zone.

The team from the south coast have been particularly poor in defence of late, conceding at least two goals in six of their last seven league outings. The Saints sold captain Jose Fonte to West Ham in the January transfer window to weaken their defensive options.

Then in-demand Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk picked up an injury that could sideline him for up to two months. Puel has been left with just one for centre-back in Maya Yoshida, while young left-back Jack Stephens has been filling in at centre-back.

Media reports suggest that the south coast club are close to signing free agent Martin Caceres. The 29-year-old left Juventus as a free agent last summer after an injury-plagued three years in Turin. The move is not a surprising one because Caceres is highly-rated, despite having failed to play a first team match in a year.

It remains to be seen if the transfer will go through, as Caceres has already failed a medical with Turkish Super League side Trabzonspor. If he can stay fit then Caceres would definitely be a good addition to Saints dwindling defensive options.

This weekend Puel’s side travel to the north east to face bottom club Sunderland. It would have been regarded as a pretty simple trip, if the Black Cats had not just recorded a 4-0 win at relegation rivals Crystal Palace last time out.

The Black Cats will have their tails up and the Saints can ill-afford another defeat or they could very well get dragged into the relegation battle.