According to reports by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, via Sport Witness, Southampton defender Cedric Soares has been talking about his situation at the Premier League strugglers during the international break, and he has revealed that the club blocked him leaving last summer and that he would like to play Champions League football again in the future.

The Euro 2016 winner has been a regular at right-back for Saints ever since he joined them from Sporting Lisbon in 2015, but the south coast outfit are in real danger of losing their top flight status this term as they currently lie two points from safety with just eight league games remaining.

However, he scored his first goal for the club in their 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium last weekend, which saw them set up a FA Cup semi-final tie with Chelsea at Wembley next month.

Speaking to A Bola, via Sport Witness, the Portugal international said: "After the Confederations Cup, me and Van Dijk were negotiating our exit, but with the Southampton sale process it was established that no exits would be allowed.

"I'm a loyal player. I want a dream team, but if it's not a dream I don't know if I'll consider the Southampton exit."

Speaking about the Champions League, he added: "I played for Sporting, I know the responsibility, I know how I enjoyed these games and the fact that we hear that song, I have that goal."

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino may well be looking to add to his squad this summer in order to ensure they are Premier League title contenders next season and can try and advance further than the last 16 of the Champions League, and Cedric should be one of the players on his radar.

Here are three reasons Spurs must sign the 26-year-old Southampton man this summer…

Whether they are playing as full-backs or wing-backs, the likes of Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier are vital to Tottenham's defensive and attacking play, but on more than one occasion this season – particularly in the Champions League – the duo have flattered to deceive.

Trippier came under criticism from the Wembley faithful for his performance in the 2-1 defeat to Juventus that saw them eliminated from Europe's elite club competition, while Aurier has proven to be a liability a number of times when he has been handed a starting berth, including in the first leg of the knockout tie against the Serie A giants.

It could be that Pochettino looks to bring in a new right-back to challenge the pair this summer, and Cedric would be a shrewd acquisition.

Cedric mentioned in his interview with A Bola, via Sport Witness, that he would like to play in the Champions League again and is looking to join a "dream" club, and Tottenham could be the perfect fit for him in that respect.

Spurs are on course to qualify for the prestigious competition again, while the Portugal international would also thrive playing in a side that has the capability to compete at the top end of the Premier League table – something that Southampton aren't likely to do anytime soon.

Having established himself as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and having played in the Champions League previously and also been a part of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016, there is no doubt that Cedric has the experience and quality to make the step up to Tottenham.

The 26-year-old loves to get forward and help his team on the attack – as he did in the dying seconds to score his first Southampton goal against Wigan last weekend – and while his shooting and crossing perhaps need a little bit of work, he is generally excellent from a defensive point of view.

Do you agree, Spurs fans? Let us know below.