Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Cedric Soares on loan until the summer, although Arsenal are reluctant to sanction a move.
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid are keen on signing Cedric Soares on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season. The La Liga heavyweights want the Portuguese international to replace Kieran Trippier, who has joined Newcastle United, although the Gunners are reluctant to agree to a deal.
There is a lot of demand for defenders in the current market, as clubs are scrambling for options, mostly over loan deals. Atletico Madrid now have a vacancy to fill at right-back and are already looking at various options across the continent.
Following Kieran Trippier’s transfer to Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid are looking for an experienced replacement for the Englishman. Arsenal’s Cedric Soares is one of the preferred options to replace Trippier, with the Portuguese defender not playing much for Arsenal this season. Summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu has usurped Cedric to become the club’s undisputed first-choice right-back under Mikel Arteta.
Bit of Arsenal transfer news: Atletico Madrid are interested in taking Cedric Soares on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. But as it stands, Arsenal likely to be reluctant to let him go due to a lack over cover at RB having let AMN go. @MailSport
— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) January 7, 2022
Atletico Madrid want to sign him on loan with an option to buy him at the end of the term. In an ideal scenario, Arsenal might have agreed to a deal to get the player’s wages off their books, but the situation is different this time around.
Arsenal have already agreed a loan deal with AS Roma for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, which leaves Cedric as their only recognised right-back apart from Tomiyasu. Arteta is reportedly reluctant to let him leave without adding sufficient cover. Moreover, the Gunners are focusing their efforts on signing a top-class striker this month, making it hard to bring in a new right-back.
Hence, Arsenal are likely to reject any approaches from Atletico Madrid for Cedric. Diego Simeone will have to look elsewhere to replace Trippier, which will be a huge task considering the market conditions.
