Arsenal make right-back contract offer amid transfer interest

Arsenal find themselves in an interesting position where their faith is being placed in a player that is almost universally mistrusted across the fanbase.

Starting the last five Premier League matches in succession, Cedric Soares has had the unenviable task of filling in for Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back. They are big shoes to fill.

The summer signing has been superb since his arrival, nailing down his position in the team and improving Arsenal’s stability, balance and build-up. He’s exceeded all expectations.

So losing him to a string of calf injuries has been a blow. Despite one of his weaker displays against Leicester on Sunday, Cedric has, to his credit, filled in well in his absence including a fine performance away at Wolves back in February, but his long-term future at the club isn’t nailed down and with the Gunners on the lookout for a new right-back in the summer it could spell the end of his time in north London.

Arsenal make contract offer to exciting right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy amid transfer interest from the Premier League and across Europe

Looking towards the future, outside of the transfer market there are hopes of more Hale End graduates making the step up into the first team, with an academy overseen by Per Mertesacker producing an glittering array of exciting talents.

One of those is Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who has impressed in League One having joined Lincoln City over the January transfer window. The 18-year-old has featured predominately at right-back under Michael Appleton, starting the last seven league matches, and scoring once.

Due to right-back being an area to bolster, David Ornstein reports that there is growing confidence in Norton-Cuffy to make the step up to first team action in the coming years, hence why a new long-term contract has been offered to the defender.

Norton-Cuffy – who was sent off in Lincoln’s 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, a decision the club will contest – signed his first professional deal last year until the summer of 2023.

Impressive performances at Under-23 level and now in senior men’s football, Norton-Cuffy has been attracting glances from the Premier League and other major European divisions. Reassuringly, it’s added that the Londoner is set to rebuff any interesting elsewhere and accept the contract offer from Arsenal.

If indeed Cedric does depart in the summer it will leave Arteta with just one senior right-back. Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will both return from their loan spells but are expected to leave permanently, while Calum Chambers made a permanent move to Aston Villa during the winter window.

Even with another senior arrival, there are minutes to be had for any young emerging defenders in that position. Equally, Norton-Cuffy’s versatility – he can play centre-back or wing-back – boosts his chances further.