This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

As revealed by the player himself in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Southampton full-back Cedric Soares has revealed that he plans to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old - who has won 33 caps for Portugal - joined the Saints in a £4.7m deal from Sporting Lisbon back in 2015, and has made 124 appearances for the club in total.

Cedric spent the second half of last season on loan at Inter Milan, but has since reinstated himself into the first-team under Ralph Hasenhuttl this term - he is, however, currently out injured with his contract set to expire in the summer.

When speaking to The Telegraph, the man with three goals and ten assists for Southampton made a pretty big revelation that only increases the need for the Saints' plans to actually happen?

What did he say?

Cedric said: "I have just this season left.

“Everyone wants to know about their future but I try not to focus too much about it because if you are doing your job and doing it properly you don’t need to worry about this. This is something for your agent. Obviously Southampton is very important in my career and always will be.

"But right now after this season I think I am going to make another step and see what is the best for me. It’s a great opportunity and it’s something (being out-of-contract) that maybe happens once in your life for a player."

Revelation puts urgency on Saints' transfer plans

The Athletic recently revealed that the south coast side are eyeing up reinforcements at centre-back and full-back in the New Year, with the latter area now somewhat a matter of urgency following Cedric's revelation.

'Southampton are understood to be eyeing up reinforcements at centre-back and full-back in the New Year, with one agent describing the team as a “mess at the back”.'

The Portugal international is the club's only senior right-back along with Yan Valery, a young player who still has a lot to learn in the game.

On the other side of the pitch, Hasenhuttl has been playing centre-midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg at left-back on the odd occasion (twice, to be exact), with Ryan Bertrand dropped for the clash against Brighton earlier in the season - the Saints' full-back areas are extremely weak, even with Cedric at the club.

So, with the knowledge that the right-back plans to leave St Mary's soon, Southampton's desire to recruit a full-back has become a matter of urgency and needs to come to fruition.