ARSENAL star Cedric Soares is on the verge of joining Fulham on loan, according to reports.
The defender has been a bit part player this season with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu above him in the pecking order.
Fulham opened talks with the Gunners earlier this month with Marco Silva making Soares his top priority.
The pair worked with each other at Sporting Lisbon and Fulham are close to securing a six-month loan deal for the right-back, report ESPN.
Fulham will cover the entirety of Soares’ wages with the Portuguese reportedly earning close to £100,000-a-week.
Arsenal were said to be desperate to get the defender off the wage bill and will reassess his future in the summer.
Soares, 31, has a contract at Arsenal until 2024 and has made 59 appearances for the Gunners.
He has acted as back-up since arriving at the Emirates but could play an important role at Fulham.
That’s because Kevin Mbabu hasn’t fallen out of favour under Silva and has made just one Premier League start since his arrival from Wolfsburg.
And current first-choice Kenny Tete has struggled with injuries during his spell at Craven Cottage.
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Arsenal have wasted no time in identifying a new right-back and have reportedly agreed a £13.1million fee with Real Valladolid for Ivan Fresneda.
Borussia Dortmund are also in the race to sign the defender, who will be loaned back to Valladolid regardless of which club he signs for.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
