Southampton: Steven Caulker signs on loan from QPR

Southampton have confirmed the signing of QPR defender Steven Caulker on a season-long loan deal.

The former Tottenham centre-back made 36 Premier League appearances last term as the R’s failed to escape the drop, which represented a second successive relegation for Caulker who had also suffered the same fate with Cardiff City a year earlier.

“The last two years have been disappointing”, he told the club’s official website.

The defender, who started his career at Tottenham Hotspur is “very pleased” to be joining the Saints, an “ambitious” side where he can “prove himself”.

I don’t believe Caulker is ready to be a solid every week Premier League centre-back, especially for a team that finished 7th in the league previous year.

“He is still a young player, 23 years old, it’s a good opportunity for the player”.

“We are looking forward, it’s for everybody – the fans, the club, the players”.

Asked if a permanent deal was possible in the future, Koeman said: “It depends, it depends on what the player brings”.

As I said in my season (p)review a few weeks ago (and I’m planning on getting back to that, hopefully just before Charlton away), Caulker had a miserable season with the R’s in 2014-15.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is keen to make more signings before the end of the transfer window but has admitted he is in no hurry. “I think we need some more players”.

“That is one of the reasons why I have a full and strong squad with balance in the team to manage both competitions”. We are working on it. But sometimes you need more time. “I’ve learnt a lot from it and I try to take the positives”.