Arsenal transfer news: Fulham move on from ‘fantastic’ star for £7m deal

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Fulham are to cool their interest in Arsenal defender Cedric Soares and prioritise a transfer for Roma full-back Rick Karsdorp. The Portuguese has priced himself out of a January deal.

That is according to TuttoMercatoWEB, which reports the Cottagers are loath to match the salary demands that Cedric has demanded. He has sought a very high economic package to switch from Emirates Stadium to Craven Cottage that the west Londoners refuse to pay.

So, Fulham have turned their attention towards Serie A having maintained their interest in Roma star Karsdorp. Marco Silva could also raid the Championship and offer Max Aarons a route out of Norwich City. But Karsdorp was Fulham’s lead target before favouring Cedric.

Roma are also open to Karsdorp’s departure from the Stadio Olimpico during the January transfer window. The Giallorossi are unlikely to hold firm on their earlier valuation of the Dutchman, either. Fulham walked away from a deal after learning a €10m (£9m) price tag.

Yet Jose Mourinho could say goodbye to Karsdorp for €7-8m (£6-7m), despite Ligue 1 side Marseille also showing an interest. Les Phoceens could now prove to be Fulham’s greatest threat to a transfer as OM enjoy excellent rations with Roma general manager Tiago Pinto.

Arsenal outcast Cedric was Fulham boss Silva’s dream right-back transfer target

Fulham had agreed on a fee with Arsenal to sign Cedric in the January transfer market, per 90min. But talks could not progress despite both teams wishing to conclude a move as the Cottagers asked the Gunners to cover half of the Portuguese full-back’s £75k-a-week deal.

The Craven Cottage natives can also not sign Cedric on loan as they already have secured two temporary deals from Premier League teams this term. So, Silva now faces his dream becoming a nightmare as Foot Mercato has claimed the 31-year-old is his dream signing.

Interest cited by the French publication from Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen could now come to Arsenal’s aid. But Fulham offered a far easier route for Cedric, who Gilberto Silva once called ‘fantastic’. Even if he has only featured for 119 minutes so far this term.