Reports from Italy suggest that Cedric Soares's time in Italy at Inter Milan is not going as well as hoped and that it is unlikely that he will move on a permanent basis in the summer.

Cedric moved to Inter Milan for the rest of the season in a move that saw Saints get a loan fee purported to be around half a million pounds and with an option to buy for the Italian club in the summer for around £11 million.

Saints would consider that a good piece of business given the emergence of Yan Valery and the fact that Cedric is in the last year of his contract at St Mary's but the stumbling block looks to be that he can't get in their side.

The 27-year-old has been unable to oust the player he was signed to replace, Danilo D’Ambrosio out of the side, also Inter are being linked with Manchester United's Matteo Darmian and a return to St. Mary’s at the end of the season rather than a permanent transfer to the San Siro now looks to be on the cards.

Since joining Inter he has started only one game of the five possible in Serie A, in which he was subbed off after 79 minutes with another appearance as a last minute substitute, in the last three games he has been an unused substitute.

This has fuelled reports in Italy that Inter won't pursue Cedric in the summer and are not likely to activate their option to buy.

So Cedric looks to be about to return to St Mary's although whether he will see out the final year of his contract remains to be seen, Saints were hoping to get about £11 million from Inter but are unlikely to get that as he enters his final season and might have to settle for a cut price sale perhaps for a higher fee than they paid in 2015 of £5 million, but nowhere near the £11 million they hoped to get.

Cedric has been a good servant to Saints in his years at the club starting 101 Premier League games in his 3 1/2 years plus another 3 as sub and has been a virtual everpresent apart from injuries and a spell under Ronald Koeman out of favour.

Photo: Action Images

DPeps added 14:11 - Mar 5 £111million for Cedric?! Seriously though, looks like we can add Cedric to the list of players who we'll struggle to sell this summer
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richardmdcooper added 14:22 - Mar 5 He needs to be part of a big clear out in the summer along with hoedt, lemina, carillo, boufal, Austin, long, clasie (is he still here?) and forster- hopefully that will create some funds for a couple of players
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underweststand added 15:44 - Mar 5 Sadly in our league the good he does is outweighed by his failure to mark opponents and tackle back when they attack. I don't think it's entirely him at fault but somehow he just doesn't seem to fit Ralph's style. Wasn't the Everton boss supposed to be a former manager he played under?
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SanMarco added 23:20 - Mar 5 He will sell - perhaps Inter are/think they are a bit too big but he will go alright. Not sure about some of the others mentioned richardmdcooper though.
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vanmans added 08:53 - Mar 6 Its a great pity Dusan Tadic is not returning this summer. He should not have been sold and has not been replaced.
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NewburySaint added 13:18 - Mar 6 I'd be amazed if Inter ever had the intention of signing him-i believe, for them, it was more about getting another body in to the end of the season to aid them and as a replacement for another right back that was ruled out for the season. Let's face it, he couldn't get in our team so he ain't going to be good enough for Inter and a league like Serie A.
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LoisDeem added 15:02 - Mar 6 For Cedric, read Tadic…(pleeease!) A present for your efforts Mr H
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KriSaint added 15:07 - Mar 6 I´m ok with Cedric coming back to fight for his place in our team.
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IWOZTHERE added 17:26 - Mar 6 He can't defend crosses or make them any more. Add him to the list of those we will struggle to sell for enough money to fund strengthening in the Summer.
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IWOZTHERE added 17:31 - Mar 6 He should have been sold when the hype about him being a Portugese international was at its height.
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KriSaint added 22:07 - Mar 6 @ Iwozthere, Cedric is still very much a portuguese international. He is a good lad. He didn´t develop megalomania as Fonte did after that Euro title.
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aceofthebase added 09:30 - Mar 7 Lock the doors, change the locks, anything!
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