This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Just prior to the summer transfer window, The Express (print version, Tuesday May 21, 2019, page 64) reported that Southampton were involved in a four-way tussle for then-Chelsea defender Gary Cahill, along with Derby, Sheffield United and West Ham.
The 61-cap England international made ten appearances short of 300 for the Blues during a hugely successful spell at Stamford Bridge, where he won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, two Europe League titles, two FA Cups and the League Cup.
At the time, Cahill was out of favour under Maurizio Sarri, and ended up making just two Premier League appearances and zero league starts in his final campaign as a Chelsea player.
The 33-year-old eventually joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer, and Southampton’s decision not to pursue him is now looking like a mistake.
For a start, the former Bolton man has proved that he still has what it takes to perform at the top level, making 11 Premier League starts for the Eagles while also winning the south Londoners’ Player of the Month award for September.
In Southampton’s case, a significantly experienced centre-back such as Cahill looks to be exactly what Ralph Hasenhuttl is currently missing at St Mary’s.
The Saints have conceded a Premier League-high 33 goals in just 15 outings this season, with the former RB Leipzig boss often indecisive over who starts alongside Jan Bednarek out of Jannik Vestergaard, Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens.
On the topic of those three players, Bednarek has 45 Premier League appearances to his name, Vestergaard has 34, and Stephens has 70- all of their outings in England’s top-flight combined don’t even come close to Cahill’s 360 appearances.
There is no real leader at the back for Southampton, in goal, at full-back and especially not at centre-back.
It must be said that there is no way to prove that Cahill would have solved all of the Saints’ defensive issues, but it certainly would’ve been a good idea to sign him up on a free transfer with everything taken into account.
In other Southampton news, Hasenhuttl must use this talented duo to solve a big issue within Gao Jisheng’s restraints…
