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Fulham agree loan deal for Arsenal defender Cedric Soares.
Cedric Soares, an Arsenal defender who has had very few playing opportunities at the Emirates, has agreed to join Fulham on loan for the rest of the season.
The 31-year-old has made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, and he has only made two additional appearances in cup competitions.
Despite his versatility, the Portugal international has struggled to get playing time this year under Mikel Arteta. The right-back by profession can also play left-back and even in the centre of defence.
Marco Silva, the manager of Fulham, previously worked with Soares at Sporting and is eager to do so again at Craven Cottage.
Silva’s side are enjoying a fantastic season after promotion from the Championship, currently seventh in the Premier League and in contention for European football.
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ESPN report that a deal has been agreed for Soares to move across London on a six-month loan with no option or obligation to buy in the summer.
The defender’s Arsenal contract is up in 2024, and his future with the club will be decided after the end of the current season.
According to an ESPN report, Fulham will pay Soares‘ entire salary, which is close to £100,000 a week.
In January 2020, Soares made a temporary loan move to Arsenal from Southampton. He then made the move permanent that summer and made 59 appearances for the team in all competitions.
His opportunities have been more constrained than ever this season due to competition from Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the right-back spot and Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko for the left-back spot.