Contrary to reports this week, Cedric Soares hasn’t received any offers from Newcastle United or Porto and he wants to stay at Arsenal.

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (L) and Arsenal's German-born Portuguese defender Cedric Soares (C)congratulate goalscorer Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard (L) and Cedric Soares (C) congratulate goalscorer Alexandre Lacazette during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

TuttoMercatoWeb reported this week that Cedric Soares will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, with Newcastle United and FC Porto bidding to bring him in this summer. Porto had supposedly made Arsenal an offer of under €5m.

Back in England, sources tells a very different story. Charles Watts of Goal reports that Cedric’s camp are describing the talk of Newcastle interest and a Porto bid as “speculation”, adding that Cedric’s focus is on Arsenal.

Both Watts and Kaya Kaynak of Football.London report that Cedric only wants to stay in North London this summer.

The right-back still has a contract with Arsenal until 2024, so if he really wants to stay, he’s going to.

You’d imagine he might be less keen if Arsenal decide to sign players to replace him and Takehiro Tomiyasu takes back the starting spot at right-back. For now, that’s not guaranteed.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: Cedric of Southampton arrives at the ground ahead of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on January 21, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Cedric Soares arrives at the ground ahead of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on January 21, 2020. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Cedric has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season, including 16 in the Premier League.

But 11 of his 13 league starts were when Tomiyasu was unavailable, either through injury or because he simply hadn’t signed for Arsenal yet. The other two starts were when Tomiyasu was making his first squad appearance after his injuries.

When Tomiyasu has been fully fit, he’s played. If Cedric stays, then he’s gambling that he can change that picture.