Arsenal Star to Remain at Club Despite Transfer Speculations
Cedric Soares, the Portuguese right-back, is set to stay at Arsenal until the end of the season, despite rumors linking him with a move to Turkey. Although many fans may have forgotten about Cedric’s presence at the club, he remains a part of Mikel Arteta’s squad. However, he has only made two senior appearances this season, accumulating just 65 minutes of playing time.
After falling down the pecking order at Arsenal, Cedric spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham. It was expected that he would leave the club last summer, but there was little interest in the defender. In January, a potential exit was once again discussed, with Villarreal and three Turkish Super Lig clubs showing interest in the 32-year-old. Arsenal was willing to let him go for a minimal fee.
Galatasaray seemed to be the most likely destination for Cedric, as negotiations were underway for his transfer. However, the Turkish club ended up signing Serge Aurier from Nottingham Forest instead. As of now, there have been no further offers for Cedric’s services. However, there is still time for Besiktas and Trabzonspor to make a move, as the Turkish transfer window remains open until February 9th.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, it has been reported by the Evening Standard that Cedric will remain an Arsenal player until his contract expires in the summer. It remains to be seen if any of the previously mentioned clubs or Benfica, who have been tentatively linked with him in the past, will approach him when he becomes a free agent.
In terms of playing time, Cedric is unlikely to have a significant role in Arsenal’s title fight against Liverpool and Manchester City. He currently sits behind Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and the returning Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order. Additionally, Jurrien Timber is expected to return in the next couple of months once he fully recovers from his ACL injury.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Cedric’s situation unfolds. Will he secure a move to another club or remain at Arsenal until his contract expires? Only time will tell.
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