Atletico Madrid are apparently interested in signing Cedric Soares from Arsenal during the January transfer window to replace Kieran Trippier.
With just four Premier League appearances under his belt this season, Cedric Soares has been identified by Atletico Madrid as a possible loan move during this window after they sold Kieran Trippier to Newcastle United.
Should the loan be successful, they would consider a permanent deal in the summer.
Although Cedric comes in for a lot of criticism from some in the Arsenal fanbase, the defender hasn’t been as bad as portrayed when given a chance this season, Manchester City at the start of the season aside, and Nottingham Forest more recently, of course.
Then again, he was far from the only poor player against Forest.
ESPN reported just a few months ago that Arsenal’s backroom staff have been impressed with Cedric Soares‘ work ethic in training, despite not getting into the side, and that wasn’t the first time we’ve heard that.
Cedric started two of the first three league games of the season but the arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu relegated him to a bench role, although he’s still clearly ahead of Calum Chambers, despite Chambers ending last season as a starter.
“I’m there fighting,” Cedric told ESPN in November.
“Every week, every day, I will be there knocking [on the door], making him a problem – in a good way – that he needs to think who to put on the pitch.
“Of course, it is [Arteta’s] decision. I respect that and he knows that.
“But I will not make it easier.”
Given that Arsenal have allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to leave the club on loan during this window, it’s hard to see them sanctioning another move for a player in the right-back position without bringing in a replacement.
When Covid hit the squad recently, Mikel Arteta was forced to play Ben White at right-back, something he didn’t pay £50m to do on a regular basis.
Back in November, Cedric was asked about the possibility of leaving the club in January to try and get regular minutes ahead of next year’s Qatar World Cup, but the 30-year-old was adamant he’s focusing on his current club.
“I’m completely focused on Arsenal,” Cedric said.
“In football you cannot guarantee anything because you don’t know: tomorrow everything can change.
“But right now, I’m here, I’m fighting for my position.
“It is the club I want to be in and I want to win my space and I will keep doing my thing.”
Atletico Madrid, however, represent quite a different proposition to the likes of Fenerbahce, who were linked with a move for Cedric during the summer.