£75k-a-week star’s exit ‘would open up possibility’ of Emirates Arrival.
Arsenal star Cedric Soares’ Emirates Stadium exit ‘would open up the possibility’ of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta dipping into the transfer market, respected journalist Dean Jones has told Sportzglobe.
The north Londoners are top of the Premier League table, but their squad could be freshened up when the winter window opens for business at the turn of the year.
Arsenal transfer news – Cedric Soares
According to the Evening Standard, Fulham are leading the race to sign Cedric from Arsenal as the Cottagers have already held preliminary talks with his representatives.
The report suggests a loan with an obligation to buy is the most likely structure of a possible deal, but the Gunners have yet to make a final decision on whether to offload the right-back amid additional interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Villarreal.
However, Cedric’s wages are proving to be a stumbling block while Fulham are attempting to rubber-stamp a switch to Craven Cottage.
The Portugal international currently earns £75,000-per-week at Arsenal and his contract is not due to expire until the summer of 2024.
Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge recently told Sportzglobe that Cedric wants to leave the Gunners during the January transfer window.
What has Dean Jones said about Cedric?
Jones believes Arsenal should look at offloading stars who are not in the forefront of Arteta’s plans.
The transfer insider feels allowing Cedric to move onto pastures would hand the Gunners an opportunity to bring in an alternative option during the winter window.
Jones told Sportzglobe: “It’s important that you do trim the fat of the squad, particularly in times when you might need to bring in somebody else.
“At least his exit would open up the possibility of bringing in somebody else if they have to further down the line.”
Should Arsenal sell Cedric in January?
Cedric has been restricted to just one start this season, according to Transfermarkt, so it is clear that he is not one of the first names on the Arsenal team-sheet.
With that being the case, it would make sense for the Gunners to move the 31-year-old on and seek an upgrade who could put additional pressure on Ben White, who has made the right-back slot his own.
Cedric has been on Arsenal’s books since initially joining on loan from Southampton in January 2020, while the transfer was made permanent a matter of months later.
But he has struggled to make an impact in the capital and only been afforded 59 appearances, although seven goal contributions have come along the way.
Cedric also failed to impress during Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last month as, despite being named in the starting line-up, he was only handed a 6.8 match rating by Sofascore after he failed to make a single tackle, lost possession 18 times and made one clearance.
With that being the case, the January transfer window could be the perfect opportunity for a parting of ways.
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