Arsenal Transfers: Cedric attracting interest ahead of potential January move

Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares is being tracked by three clubs ahead of a potential move in January.

The veteran defender has barely featured for the Gunners this season after playing a fairly prominent role at the backend of 2021/22. He’s racked up just 29 Premier League minutes this term with both Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of him in the pecking order.

With the Gunners exiting from the Carabao Cup in the third round, minutes will be hard to come by for Cedric during the second half of the season and he may seek a move away in January.

Cedric attracting interest ahead of potential January move

According to ESPN’s James Olley, Fulham, Bayer Leverkusen and Villarreal are interested in signing Cedric in the January transfer window.

The player, however, isn’t understood to be pushing for an exit and is currently focused on working his way back into Mikel Arteta’s plans – which doesn’t appear likely. The right-back has made 38 Premier League appearances for the club since joining on a free transfer from Southampton in January 2020, including 21 last season.

Olley adds that Premier League rivals Fulham are believed to be leading the race at this stage but Arsenal are yet to receive an offer for the 31-year-old’s services. Any deal will probably be a loan with an option or obligation to buy the player permanently.

While Cedric has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates, the defender is understood to be a valuable member of the dressing room and he played a key role in welcoming summer arrival Fabio Vieira to the club. He’s far from a bad footballer, too, and Arteta said in October that he wanted to give the right-back more minutes moving forward.

However, barring injuries to White and Tomiyasu, Cedric’s minutes are poised to come few and far between after the World Cup. Thus, a departure in January would make sense if the club are willing to let the veteran depart.