Reliable Arsenal reporter Charles Watts has provided an update on the situation of on-loan Gunners defender Cedric Soares.
Difficult Arsenal stint
Right-back Cedric made the move to north London this past January, on a 6-month loan from Southampton.
The experienced Portuguese international was brought to Arsenal to act as cover for Hector Bellerin, as the latter worked his way back towards full fitness.
To say that Cedric’s time at the Emirates has since proven a disappointment, though, would be an understatement.
To this point, the 28-year-old is actually yet to feature for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Cedric arrived at Arsenal nursing a knee issue, with it having been hoped that he would be fit to return to the pitch inside 3 weeks.
However, by the time the COVID-19 outbreak brought football to a halt in the UK back in March, the stopper had still not fully recovered.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 17: Cedric Soares of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary’s Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
And Cedric’s shocking run of luck on the fitness front has since continued, with the Sporting CP youth product having played no part in either of Arsenal’s warm-up friendlies ahead of the Premier League’s return.
This comes after he picked up a facial injury during a recent training session, after being struck by a ball.
Cedric to move on
As outlined above, meanwhile, the aforementioned issues, coupled with the terms of his loan, mean that Cedric could be set to depart Arsenal without ever having stepped foot on the pitch in the club’s colours.
The versatile full-back’s contract in north London is currently set to expire on June 30th.
And, as revealed by the reliable Charles Watts, despite the COVID-19-hit campaign being expected to drag into late July, Arsenal and Cedric are yet to reach an agreement on the terms of an extension.
The deadline for such a deal to be reached, meanwhile, is the 23rd of June.
Cedric’s situation, though, is a precarious one.
The Portuguese is set to become a free agent this summer, with his Southampton contract also up at the end of the month.
This means that, should he take to the pitch for Arsenal as part of a short-term agreement, Cedric risks picking up another injury, and in turn jeopardising his chances of finding a new permanent club ahead of next season.
As such, though the Gunners are said to maintain hope of finding an agreement, it looks highly likely that their on-loan stopper is set to move on without having made a solitary appearance for the club.
Arsenal yet to agree extension with Cedric Soares. If agreement not reached by June 23, he could leave without playing a game.https://t.co/DaptdxOJFK
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) June 12, 2020
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