Journalist Dan Sheldon has recently provided an update about the situation of Cedric Soares and his potential transfer to Arsenal in the future.
Sheldon, who writes for the Daily Echo, was recently present on the Total Saints Podcast recently. A discussion about Cedric’s situation took place on the episode and Sheldon was asked to comment about the right-back and what the future holds for him.
Cedric had joined Arsenal on loan from Southampton in January, with the defender’s original deal at St. Mary’s running out at the end of this month.
When the discussion about Cedric took place, Sheldon revealed that Cedric is happy as an Arsenal player and provided details on a potential deal.
Sheldon said: “Well, I spoke to someone at the club on Cedric at the beginning of this week about the options. My understanding was that Arsenal would have to contact Saints and say, ‘we want to keep this player until the end of the season, are you happy with that?’
Is Cedric done as a Southampton player?
Yes, he's done
I think he'll stay
“But what I was told is that’s not the case, because he’s a free agent on the 30th of June. From the 30th of June, he is not a Southampton player, he’s a free agent. So from Saints’ point of view, they didn’t think that Arsenal would need to contact them.”
Sheldon also went on to say that while his situation is ‘strange’, Arsenal could be waiting to sign him on a cheaper deal soon.
He continued: “I really don’t know with Cedric, it’s a strange one. When he becomes a free agent on the 30th of June, he’s obviously then free to negotiate with other clubs. So what Arsenal are probably doing is waiting until then and then they’ll get him on a cheaper deal, I don’t really know. I don’t think he’d be too fussed because you can just imagine that he is loving life in his Arsenal kit. It doesn’t really matter one way or the other.”
Sheldon does reflect on some confusion about where Cedric’s future might lie, but he also makes it clear that the right-back’s days at St. Mary’s appear to be numbered.
TIF Thoughts…
Cedric may be an Arsenal player currently, but he is yet to make a single first-team appearance for the Gunners. He was also nursing a knee problem when he joined, but has found himself sidelined through a separate facial injury.
The Saints signed Kyle Walker-Peters on loan from Tottenham in January and already have Yan Valery as an alternative right-back option. Both of them are younger than Cedric and have potential to grow as a result, so perhaps losing Cedric wouldn’t harm them too much, especially if they manage to keep hold of Walker-Peters.
They have also been linked with Joakim Maehle in the past and if the Genk man was to arrive, it would certainly make sense to let Cedric leave upon the expiration of his Saints deal.