Villarreal are interested in Arsenal’s Cedric Soares ahead of the January transfer window, with the Gunners open to the move.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Cedric of Arsenal FC controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Cedric of Arsenal FC controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Chris Wheatley and James Olley of ESPN report that La Liga side Villarreal are interested in Arsenal’s Cedric Soares ahead of the January transfer window.

The Gunners are open to letting Cedric leave in January, with the player’s contract set to expire in the summer anyway.

It’s not yet clear whether Villarreal would be offering any money for the move, or simply offering to take Cedric’s wages off of Arsenal’s bill for the remainder of the season.

But there’s also interest from clubs in Turkey ahead of the January window.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS: The Arsenal team line up for a photo prior to the UEFA Champions League match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at Philips Stadion on December 12, 2023. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS: The Arsenal team line up for a photo prior to the UEFA Champions League match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at Philips Stadion on December 12, 2023. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Cedric made his first start of the season for Arsenal on Tuesday, playing against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

With the top two positions in the group already having been decided, there was little at stake in the final game of the group stage, and Mikel Arteta decided to rotate heavily for the clash.

The right-back’s only other appearance for the Arsenal first team this season was in the third round of the League Cup, as he came off the bench for the final few minutes of the match against Brentford.

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, and teammates of Arsenal applaud fans following the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Mohamed Elneny, Cedric Soares, and teammates of Arsenal applaud fans following the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal are slightly shorter than usual at right-back at the moment, with Takehiro Tomiyasu injured and Ben White only recently having recovered from an injury of his own.

But Tomiyasu should be back before the conclusion of the January transfer window, albeit that he may miss a couple of games in February for the AFC Asian Cup.

With talented youngster Reuell Walters waiting in the wings, Arsenal’s need for Cedric isn’t particularly great right now. A move to Villarreal would probably make sense for him and his current club.