Newcastle United are eyeing a bargain deal for Arsenal defender Cedric Soares with the Portuguese international set to leave Mikel Arteta’s Premier League giants in the summer transfer window, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
When those Saudi Arabian billionaires liberated English football’s great underachievers from Mike Ashley’s dungeon of despair, it’s unlikely that a 30-year-old full-back who’s started just 21 games in the last two seasons was the marquee signing many on Tyneside were dreaming of.
Then again, you could probably say the same about Dan Burn and Matt Targett. The phrase ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ comes to mind.
Burn and Targett, two proven Premier League performers, have made a colossal impact since arriving at St James’ Park in January, espousing the benefits of experience and reliability while proving that, even for a club with more money than God, there’s still a place for bargain signings.
WILL CEDRIC LEAVE ARSENAL FOR NEWCASTLE?
Cedric is set to leave Arsenal in the summer with The Gunners prioritising a more youthful addition. Djed Spence and Jhilmar Lora are two targets.
TMW believe that Porto have offered £4 million to bring the former Sporting Lisbon defender back to Portugal. Newcastle could make a move of their own, however, intrigued as they by Cedric’s versatility.
The one-time Southampton and Inter Milan ace, who has 34 caps for the 2016 European champions, is a right-back by trade. But he’s shown during his two years at Arsenal that he can also be relied upon to provide cover on the opposite flank too.
“He’s a different quality” Arteta said after luring Cedric to the Emirates back in 2020.
“He’s a gifted, technical player and is probably the best we have in the final third to make the right decision and attack the box.
“He can play in a four-man defence or a five. He’s a really good player with experience in the Premier League.”
