Arsenal ace in talks to join former boss at Prem rival in January switch

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Cedric Soares’ agent is in Fulham talks with the Arsenal benchwarmer potentially in line for a mid-season move to another Premier League club during the January transfer window, according to Calciomercato. 

You certainly couldn’t accuse Portugal coach Fernando Santos of picking his World Cup squad based on form.

Cedric has 34 caps for the Iberian nation. But just one of those has come since the beginning of 2021, the former Sporting Lisbon and Southampton right-back paying for a back-seat role at Arsenal with his international prospects. 

Cedric has played just four times all season; including a grand total of 27 minutes in the Premier League. This, coupled with his omission from Portugal’s 2022 World Cup squad, may be all the encouragement the 31-year-old needs to pursue a fresh challenge, with Calciomercato reporting that his agent is already in discussions with Villarreal, Bayer Leverkusen and Fulham. 

Marco Silva could reunite with Arsenal’s Cedric Soares at Fulham

Cedric opted to stay at the Emirates when Fulham came calling in August (Football London). It seems unlikely he will make the same decision again, with Ben White’s transformation into a high-class full-back pushing the one-time Inter Milan loanee even further down Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. 

Having said that, first-team football cannot be guaranteed at Craven Cottage either. Kenny Tete remains a popular member of Marco Silva’s squad, while Fulham also have the Swiss international Kevin Mbabu on their books. 

Bobby Decordova-Reid has filled in at right-back recently too; albeit with somewhat mixed results.

Interestingly, Fulham coach Marco Silva worked with Cedric at Sporting Lisbon back in 2014/15; winning the Taca de Portugal trophy together in the Portuguese capital. Cedric joined Southampton for £4.5 million following that breakthrough season at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

“Of course, I am disappointed,” Cedric said recently when asked about his lack of game time at Arsenal. “I believe, since I arrived at Arsenal, I have been giving positive answers on the pitch every time I had the chance to play. 

“I have been working hard every day; this is the only way I know to get where you want to be.

“Of course, I want to play and I want to help the team to win and achieve its goals and I will grab the opportunity when I get it. I feel I am in great shape and I am always 100 per cent ready to help the team.”