By Betsefy
Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares has reportedly chosen to snub deadline-day interest from Fulham in order to stay at the Emirates.
The former Southampton man is still waiting for his first appearance of the new Premier League season after being an unused substitute in three games and failing to make the squad against Leicester City or Bournemouth.
Cedric featured prominently for Mikel Arteta‘s side in the 2021-22 season amid Takehiro Tomiyasu‘s injury woes, tallying one goal and three assists in 26 matches and making 16 Premier League starts.
However, Tomiyasu has since returned to fitness, and the return of William Saliba from his loan spell at Marseille has allowed Ben White to start the 2022-23 season as Arteta’s first-choice right-back.
Cedric’s long-term future has understandably been called into question throughout the summer months, and the 31-year-old’s contract at the Emirates expires in the summer of 2024.
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According to football.london, Fulham – who have already done business with Arsenal this summer for the transfer of Bernd Leno – have shown an interest in taking Cedric off of the Gunners’ hands.
However, Cedric supposedly has no interest in making the move to Craven Cottage and instead wants to stay and try to prove himself at Arsenal in the coming months.
The Portugal international initially signed for the Gunners on loan from Southampton in January 2020, and his switch to North London on a free transfer was made official a few months later.
Cedric has since amassed two goals and five assists from 55 outings for Arsenal in all competitions, and the Gunners are unlikely to sanction his departure while they continue to trim their defensive ranks.
Cedric remains above Hector Bellerin in the pecking order, and Barcelona are now believed to have agreed a deadline-day deal to sign the latter on a free transfer from Arsenal.
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As is the case with Cedric, Bellerin is also yet to make a competitive appearance in the 2022-23 season and is poised to return to Barcelona 11 years after departing their academy to sign for the Gunners.
Meanwhile, the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles – who is capable of filling in on the right-hand side of the backline – should be confirmed as a Southampton player imminently when his loan deal goes through.
The 24-year-old is reportedly set to extend his Arsenal deal until 2024 before heading to St Mary’s on loan with an option to buy, and Arsenal could still welcome new faces to the Emirates before Thursday’s deadline.
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is said to be the subject of late interest from the North London club, who have already reached an agreement on personal terms with the Brazilian.
However, Villa are determined to rebuff Arsenal’s advances and keep hold of Luiz, who has now entered the final 12 months of his contract at Villa Park.
