Arsenal can secure January transfer deal with Villarreal after Arteta complaints
Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares is reportedly wanted by Villarreal in January. The Portugal international could make the move to Spain after his manager Mikel Arteta received criticism for picking him against PSV Eindhoven in midweek.
Cedric has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal in the last couple of years. He has made just two appearances this season, with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu preferred in his position.
The 32-year-old spent the second half of last term on loan at London rivals Fulham. However, he made just six Premier League appearances for the Cottagers, four as a substitute.
Cedric’s contract at Arsenal expires at the end of this season. But there is a chance he will not see out the final six months of his deal.
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ESPN claims that Villarreal want to sign Cedric next month. The La Liga side have shown an interest in the former Southampton star since the summer.
Arsenal are said to be willing to listen to offers for Cedric but it is currently not clear whether they would entertain a loan offer or only sanction a permanent exit. There is also interest from unnamed clubs in Turkey.
Cedric may have played his final game for Arsenal if he does leave next month. He was a surprise starter in the dead-rubber Champions League tie at PSV on Tuesday.
Arteta opted against giving academy star Reuell Walters an opportunity by instead picking Cedric. Walters, 18, is yet to make his senior debut and fans were disappointed to see Cedric play despite his future being away from Arsenal.
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Walters was one of three youngsters Arteta took to Eindhoven. The Premier League’s youngest-ever player Ethan Nwaneri, 16, and Lino Sousa, 18, also made the trip.
But despite Arsenal already having secured top spot in their group, Arteta chose against bringing any of them on in the 1-1 draw. He claimed it wasn’t the right game for them to be brought into.
Arteta said: “I don’t think it was the right context, making eight changes already to throw them in there against a team that hasn’t lost here almost in two years, I didn’t think it was the right moment and I went on to wait to see how the game developed. But it was too much for them and as well we have three little issues, we had to make the subs and then we had no room because we really wanted to play a game as well.”
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