£75k-a-week ace one step closer to Arsenal exit as rivals make £10m call

Follow us on Google Discover

Cedric Soares could be one step closer to leaving Premier League leaders Arsenal as Fulham back out of the race to sign rival right-back target Rick Karsdorp from Roma, according to Roma Giallorossa. 

Technically speaking, Cedric is the most natural right-back option in Mikel Arteta’s squad. Not that this is doing the Portugal international many favours; now firmly established as the club’s third-choice behind the versatile Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White.

In all competitions, Cedric has started just once this season. And that came in the 3-1 EFL Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion; a much-changed Arsenal side sent packing from the competition on home soil. 

And, with just 18 months left on his contract, it stands to reason that Arsenal would prefer to cash in on Cedric sooner rather than later. According to Sky Sports, London rivals Fulham are prioritising a new right-back in the January window, with the experienced 31-year-old high on their radar. Cedric is well known to Cottagers boss Marco Silva, having worked under his compatriot at Sporting Lisbon prior to his £4.5 million move to Southampton back in 2015. 

In addition to Fulham, Calciomercato say that Cedric’s agent is also in discussions with Villarreal and Bayer Leverkusen; the Bundesliga side having targeted West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal too. 

Cedric Soares could leave Arsenal for Premier League rivals Fulham

Cedric is not the only right-back on Fulham’s radar. But he is, perhaps, the most affordable. Italian publication Leggo say that the Cottagers saw an opening bid of £7 million rejected by Serie A giants Roma for three-time Netherlands international Rick Karsdorp this week. 

Despite falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho, the Conference League holders are still demanding £10 million. A fee Fulham appear to have no interest in paying, turning their attention to more low-cost additions. Like Cedric, for instance.

Sky reporter Michael Bridge, however, believes that Arsenal would be unwilling to let the £75,000-a-week Cedric go without first finding a replacement. 

“There’s a lot of interest in Cedric,” Bridge tells GiveMeSport. “And my understanding is he wants to move on. But Arsenal won’t allow that unless they bring someone else in.”