Southampton hoping to sign former Barcelona and Juventus defender Martin Caceres

Saints have done all they can to sign the 29-year-old free agent, and are now waiting on a work permit being granted.

Caceres has to stay out of the country until it is approved, which the club hope may happen early next week.

At that stage he will be allowed to formally sign a deal until the end of the season and join up with his new teammates at Staplewood.

Saints boss Claude Puel admitted it was hard to speak about a deal which still has a slim chance of still falling through, but did reflect on what Caceres could bring to the squad.

“For the moment it is difficult for me to comment on this because he has not signed for Southampton,” said Puel.

“In the next few days we see if he can bring something for the squad and if he signs.

“For the moment it is just speculation and we don’t know.

“He is an international player and his quality and his spirit can be interesting.”

Saints have moved for Caceres following the news that defensive leader Virgil van Dijk faces several months on the sidelines.

There is no prospect of Caceres being available for this weekend’s game at Sunderland, meaning the earliest he could make his debut would be the League Cup final at Wembley on February 26.

However, that would be a huge gamble from Puel after only a week and a half of training with the club and given the former Barcelona and Juventus man has not played for more than a year.

“It’s difficult for me to speak about this player because it’s not the reality for the moment,” reiterated Puel.

“I think it’s a good possibility and after we will see if he can be in a good fit because it was a long time with a long injury, and I think he works but we don’t know his level and his possibility.

“For the moment the priority is that he can sign for Southampton. For the moment it’s not the reality.

“If we have the possibility to see him on the squad for his spirit, his personality and his quality it’s perhaps important for us.”