Arsenal are reportedly struggling to sell Cedric Soares to Fulham with the west London club stalling on a deal due to the Portuguese defender’s wage demands.
According to the Evening Standard, the Cottagers are unwilling to match Cedric’s £65,000-a-week salary as Mikel Arteta looks to sell the 31-year-old fullback this month, with Marco Silva eager to reunite with his former Sporting Lisbon star.
As per the report, Fulham won’t take any unnecessary financial risks this month despite the eighth-place Premier League side looking to add to their squad after a fantastic campaign back in the top-flight, with a win tonight against Leicester City taking the Cottagers level with Liverpool in the standings.
However, it appears that Fulham are struggling to get off the ground in regards to a move for Cedric, with Arsenal likely to cover some of the defender’s wages if the north London side are to push through a sale of the former Southampton right-back this month.
Indeed, Cedric has hardly played for Arsenal this season, with the 31-year-old’s only start coming in a 3-1 League Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, with the fullback also making just one substitute appearance in the Premier League.
Interest has been high in Cedric beyond Fulham, yet with the Cottagers now in talks for the defender, it would make sense for the Arsenal man to lower his demands in order to secure a move from the Emirates Stadium, with a reunion with Silva arguably the best possible outcome for the right-back.
Cedric must agree deal with Fulham to ensure Arsenal sale
Cedric’s time with Arsenal is clearly up, with the defender hardly featuring for the Gunners this season with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu way ahead of the 31-year-old in the right-back pecking order, and agreeing a move to Fulham would now be perfect for all parties involved.
After all, Fulham would be able to offer Cedric regular football whilst also playing under a manager the defender knows very well. And whilst salary demands are important, it will be hard for the fullback to find a better contract that what the former Saints’ star is currently earning with Arsenal.
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