After a dismal first half of the season, Cedric Soares has expressed a desire to leave Arsenal in the next January transfer window. But Mikel Arteta is holding out
Cedric Soares, who saw little action for Arsenal in the first half of the season, reportedly wants to leave the club during the next January transfer window. Mikel Arteta, who values stability in his team, may stymie the Portuguese’s attempts to make a transfer.
Arsenal is dominating domestically and has a five-point lead in the Premier League. Second-place Manchester City is hot on their heels. So Mikel Arteta plans to make some big moves in the transfer market in January.
The lack of quality depth at several places in the current Arsenal roster is still Arteta’s biggest worry. They would want to acquire a centre midfielder and a winger first and foremost. But they could also use another player in defence if given the chance.
Arteta has shown a clear preference for a select group of players to start Premier League games so far this season. The management started the season with Ben White at right back. Takehiro Tomiyasu was moved to the opposite wing.
Given that Ben White and Tomiyasu have solidified their places at right back, there is little room for Cedric Soares on the roster. After the Japanese international suffered an injury, the Portuguese defender saw significant playing time in the second half of the previous season.
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Will Cedric leave the Emirates stadium?
Except for the EFL Cup defeat to Brighton immediately before the World Cup break, he didn’t play at all this season. Cedric wants valiantly to play frequently. But if the other players at Arsenal maintain their fitness, he may never have the chance to.
For this reason, he hopes to depart Arsenal in the next January transfer window. But reports indicate that Mikel Arteta is set on keeping his team under wraps and instead plans to bolster it only via transfers. This means he may be able to bar Cedric from leaving the area.
Arsenal may decide to sell if they get an offer they find acceptable. With just 18 months remaining on his contract, though, the 31-year-old is unlikely to get more than a token offer.
During the next transfer window, Arteta might aim to recruit a winger and a midfielder while otherwise keeping the present group together. Cedric could have to wait until the summer to leave the club permanently.
Cedric has been a member of the Arsenal squad since the summer of 2020, when he made the permanent transfer from Southampton. Before that, the defender spent six months on loan with the Emirates.
He’s in his fourth year with the Gunners but has only appeared in 59 games so far. His is a supporting role, used primarily when the starters are sidelined with injuries. Because of that, the Portuguese defender played in 21 games for his team in the Premier League last year.
