‘Fantastic’ Arsenal ace now open to January transfer after Mikel Arteta decision

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Arsenal defender Cedric Soares is now open to a January transfer amid interest from Besiktas and Trabzonspor, having failed to convince Mikel Arteta he deserves to play.

The 32-year-old has held little more than a reserve role at Emirates Stadium so far this term. Arteta has only unleashed Cedric in two of Arsenal’s 28 matches across all competitions. He has further only started the right-back in one match and awarded him a total of 65 minutes.

Cedric made his only start with a 62-minute appearance at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Arteta elected to award the Portuguese a rare appearance after Arsenal had already topped their group. His only other outing came in a brief cameo at Brentford in the EFL Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s stance tempts Cedric Soares to leave Arsenal in January

Now, though, the Evening Standard reports that Cedric is open to leaving Arsenal during the January transfer window given Arteta’s routine decisions to bench him. The 34-cap Selecao international has sat amongst the Gunners’ substitutes for 15 games across all competitions.

Cedric is considering his future now as the wing-back is also out of contract in north London in June 2024. Arsenal may also only demand a small fee for his transfer despite Besiktas and Trabzonspor evolving their interest. The Super Lig rivals have both spoken to Cedric’s agent.

Besiktas and Trabzonspor have sought to contact Cedric’s agent to sound out his stance on leaving Arsenal in January. They realise that he is increasingly surplus to requirements under Arteta. The Evening Standard also adds the Gunners want to clear his £120k-a-week wage.

Besiktas and Trabzonspor join Villarreal with an interest in a transfer

Arsenal see clearing Cedric’s £120k-a-week salary from their wage bill as a priority to free up funds for Arteta’s transfers. Arteta is also open to Cedric leaving Arsenal in January given the boss has rarely trusted the right-back this term. He is also earning interest outside of Turkey.

Journalist Chris Wheatley has also reported that Villarreal have shown an interest in Cedric ahead of the January transfer window. A switch to Spain would add a fourth country to the CV of a player Gilberto Silva once called ‘fantastic’. He has also played in Portugal and Italy.