Arsenal Newsnow: Cedric Soares, a defender for Arsenal, is expected to depart the club before the end of the month

Arsenal Newsnow: Until the remainder of the season, the 31-year-old defender, Cedric Soares, will be playing for Fulham on loan, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. The North London club has dropped the Portuguese defender in the pecking order. Thus he has to leave the Gunners to get more playing time elsewhere. At this point in his career, Soares needs more playing time after making only one start in the League Cup for Arsenal this season.

Arsenal Newsnow: What’s the report?

He’ll make an instant contribution to Craven Cottage thanks to his skill and expertise. Fulham is in a good position in the standings, as they are now eighth. They shouldn’t have any trouble trying to make the cut for Europe. The correct signings in January might improve Marco Silva’s team’s prospects of qualifying for Europe next season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal will be finalized by the end of the week. Fulham will pay his salaries of up to £100,000 per week. Even though the recently promoted Premier League team doesn’t have the option to buy Cedric Soares permanently, it wouldn’t be strange if they sought to make the deal permanent if Soares performed well in the second half of the season.

In the meanwhile, defender Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid has been linked to a transfer to Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is said to have an interest in the 18-year-old right back. It would be intriguing to see whether the Gunners can get a deal for him.

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What’s next for the Gunners?

Concerns over Mohamed Elneny’s knee injury have prompted Mikel Arteta to suggest that Arsenal may look for further midfield depth before the transfer window closes. Arsenal’s unexpected complication comes in the form of Elneny, who was hurt in training before their triumph over Tottenham earlier this month. He will be out for a significant amount of time.

Fulham are close to complete signing of Cedric Soares from Arsenal by the end of the week 🚨⚪️⚫️ #FulhamFC

Understand it’d be a loan move until June, no buy option clause included. Fulham will cover his wages up to 100k/week #AFC

Talks at final stages, as @JamesOlley reported. pic.twitter.com/vi38CIiEKJ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 25, 2023

Arteta is concerned about a lack of protection behind Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, despite having bolstered the defence with the acquisition of Jakub Kiwior from Spezia and the attack with the arrival of Leandro Trossard from Brighton.

Arsenal, who are set to go for West Ham’s Declan Rice in the summer, may search for short-term answers in defensive midfield before Tuesday’s deadline if Albert Sambi Lokonga fails to show that he can be a long-term option. Amadou Onana of Everton and Weston McKennie of Juventus have both garnered transfer rumours.