Friday 17 April 2020 10:07, UK
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte strengthened his defence on Deadline Day but the opportunity to sign one of his former Juventus stars on a free transfer could be too good to pass up.
So who is Martin Caceres and how would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?
Martin Laurence from WhoScored.com takes a look...
When Chelsea forked out £30m to secure the return of much-maligned defender David Luiz, it's fair to say more than the odd eyebrow was raised. A fan favourite during his first stint in the capital, the deal has been criticised with the Blues left somewhat scrambling for defensive cover.
Indeed, the Brazilian was nowhere near the top of Conte's wishlist when it came to strengthening a back-line that wilted all too often last season.
Chelsea failed to agree deals for the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Kalidou Koulibaly and Alessio Romagnoli, to name just three, and found themselves in something of a desperate situation come Deadline Day.
Luiz was joined at Stamford Bridge by former Bolton and Sunderland full-back Marcos Alonso, who made significant strides in his development following a move to Fiorentina.
However, if reports are to be believed, Conte is still keen on bolstering his defensive ranks, despite the close of the transfer window. Indeed, there is the possibility that the Londoners could complete another transfer, with a familiar face to the new Blues boss tipped for a reunion with the Italian.
A free agent after Juventus decided not to offer the Uruguayan a new contract, Martin Caceres is eligible to sign immediately.
At 29, the defender still has plenty to offer and while he failed to nail down a regular berth with the Old Lady during his five years in Turin, that shouldn't be held against him too much.
Indeed, it was Conte who established the back three now known as the BBC - Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini - as one of the finest rearguards in world football. To attempt to break up that trio would be an unenviable task for any defender.
Caceres was instead signed by Conte as an understudy following a previous loan spell with Juve, capable of filling a variety of roles and being deployed in different formations. It's this adaptability that could see history repeat itself.
After joining the Italian champions on loan from Barcelona in 2009/10, Caceres started 95 league games over seven seasons, and has hinted that his is a career that has never really taken off. That 37 of said starts came in an 18-month spell with Sevilla further highlights that he failed to make his mark at Juventus, though that isn't to say he wasn't a useful asset.
Thirty-eight of his starts came at right-back, 13 at left-back and 40 at centre-back - be that in a back three or four - showcasing his commendable versatility.
To a Chelsea side that was left a little exposed by a long-term injury to youngster Kurt Zouma last season, Caceres' ability to play across the defence could prove invaluable, while a familiarity with Conte's favoured 3-5-2 formation - utilised in a back three by the former Italy coach 24 times - will also appeal to his old boss.
While the highly-rated manager is yet to deploy such a system at the Bridge, the captures of both Luiz and Alonso have been considered by some as a suggestion that it is still his desire to do so in the long run.
So what of Caceres' strengths? Somewhat skewed by the fact he has not only played a number of different roles in recent seasons but also that he has done so for a side that has become so dominant in their domestic league, his stats are difficult to analyse in great detail.
Nevertheless, the experienced Uruguay international, already capped 68 times by his country, has proven adept at adopting a patient, progressive approach from the back.
Deemed 'very strong' at passing and 'strong' at holding onto the ball by WhoScored.com's statistically-driven player characteristics, Caceres averaged a superb 90.2 per cent pass accuracy following his permanent transfer to Juventus.
He can be considered an all-rounder rather than a specialist defender, with his ability to adopt a clear style hindered in some ways by his capacity to fit into a side where needed.
Versatility, for some, however, is both a blessing and a curse and Caceres arguably falls into that category.
On the short side for a centre-back, shy of six feet, the South American's athleticism certainly contributes to his comfort at playing in either full-back role and he is perhaps better suited to a right-back berth. Nevertheless, he isn't the sort of full-back likely to bomb on and sparkle in the final third, at least in terms of telling contributions, failing to register a single league assist since his time at Sevilla in 2011.
Impressively, following a switch back to Juventus, he was booked just three times in the league and certainly isn't the type of player likely to leave his team short due to ill-discipline. His tackling is generally well-timed, though like Chelsea's current centre-back options, he isn't the type to commit and dive into tackles, with a modest average of 1.7 per game in his second spell at Juventus.
It's clear that if Conte remains unconvinced as to his squad's depth, the option to pursue Caceres is a logical one. A hugely experienced international that wouldn't take too long to readjust to the demands of his former boss, capable of fulfilling a number of different duties would be a useful asset to have.
Whether or not the Uruguayan is willing to once more serve as a back-up will perhaps speak of his ambition to rebuild his reputation.
It may not be the smartest of moves from the player's perspective then, but as far as Chelsea are concerned it would certainly make a lot of sense.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find live in-game data as well as player and team ratings. You can follow scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with their free app.
