Free agent Willy Caballero is set to join Southampton on a short-term contract, The Athletic reports.
The former Chelsea and Manchester City goalkeeper has been without a club since the summer.
Free Agent Willy Caballero to Join Southampton as Solution to Goalkeeping Crisis
Southampton Acted Quickly to Secure Free Agent Willy Caballero
With both Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster out injured, Southampton have acted quickly to secure a replacement in the form of 40-year-old Willy Caballero, a free agent after leaving Chelsea in the summer.
The absence of their two preferred goalkeepers left them with only Harry Lewis as an option with a game against Arsenal coming up on December 11.
Lewis, 23, made three first-team appearances in the 2016/17 FA Cup, conceding seven goals – five of them v Arsenal.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have opted for a more experienced option in signing Caballero. Few goalkeepers come as experienced as the five-time Argentina international. His senior career now stretched 20 years from his debut at Boca Juniors.
Caballero spent most of his career in Spain with Elche and Malaga before a move to England with Manchester City.
With City, he added the League Cup to his CV and switched to London-based Chelsea in 2017 – a move which allowed him to increase his tally of trophies with the club’s successful FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League campaigns.
Since leaving Chelsea, Caballero has remained in the UK, spending some time training with AFC Wimbledon in an attempt to keep himself fit.
Why Southampton Need Him
Caballero is needed at Southampton following the hamstring injury sustained by Alex McCarthy in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, December 4.
Fraser Forster was out of the squad for that game due to a muscle problem, leaving Harry Lewis, who hasn’t actually played for the first-team since 2016/17, as their only option.
Southampton have recovered from a 2-1 loss at Norwich City and 4-0 thumping by Liverpool at Anfield with two draws – 2-2 v Leicester City and 1-1 with Brighton.
They are 15th in the table, just six points clear of the relegation zone.
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