According to a report from The Telegraph, Arsenal will sign Southampton’s Cedric on loan until the end of the season.
The Portuguese international has just six months left on his contract after which he will be available for free. The report claims that Arsenal will pay a fee less than £1 million for Cedric and the full-back will have the option of signing a four-year deal with us in the summer.
This would be a brilliant move for so many different reasons. Cedric is an accomplished full-back both in the Premier League as well as at international level. The 28-year-old has played over 300 games for club and country so far which makes him hugely reliable when needed.
Cedric will definitely not be the first choice. Hector Bellerin will continue to start regularly in the league but the Portuguese will be a brilliant back up for him. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has filled in brilliantly there, can return to his natural midfield role which is a big boost for us.
The Southampton man is also capable of playing at left-back. Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney are both casualties at the moment and young Bukayo Saka has had to fill in over the last month.
Cedric provides fantastic cover on both sides of central defence and at 28, he is in his prime. A six-month deal makes so much sense for both parties who can evaluate the situation again in the summer.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
