Arsenal move verging on collapse as talks with completely new target begin after two deal-breaking factors emerge
An Arsenal deal is falling apart due to two sizeable hurdles, with the second club involved now opening talks over signing an entirely different target, per multiple reports.
Arrivals at the Emirates on deadline day are expected to revolve around Jorginho. A £12m fee has been agreed with Chelsea and the 31-year-old has given the green light to joining the Gunners.
Fabrizio Romano gave the deal his signature ‘here we go’ confirmation and barring disaster, Mikel Arteta should have a high class midfield addition before the day is out.
However, it’s an altogether different story regarding the potential exit of Cedric Soares.
The Portuguese right-back is wanted by Fulham, though per various sources, the deal has stalled.
A six-month loan deal had been in the works as Marco Silva’s high-flying side seek competition for Kenny Tete.
Cedric is on board with moving across the capital and worked with Silva during their time at Sporting Lisbon.
However, two sizeable hurdles are blocking progress in the deal – a disagreement over the player’s wages and an already full loan quota.
The Daily Mail report Cedric earns around £65,000-a-week. ESPN, meanwhile, are adamant the veteran defender pockets closer to £100,000-a-week.
In any case, both the Athletic and Mail report Arsenal and Fulham can’t find common ground over how the salary should be shared out.
Arsenal would obviously prefer Fulham absorb 100 percent of the wages. The Cottagers see the situation differently.
Furthermore, Fulham have already made two loan signings from Premier League teams this season and as such, are at the limit in that regard.
Leeds’ Dan James and Brighton’s Shane Duffy are on the books. Today’s Transfer Gossip revealed Duffy could be marched back to Brighton to make room for Cedric, though there’s no point terminating his deal if an agreement over the wages issue isn’t reached first.
Fulham formulate plan B and C
In any case, that now looks unlikely to occur after Fulham opened talks with FC Twente’s Joshua Brenet instead.
The 28-year-old has bagged four goals and two assists in the Eredivisie this season and Fulham clearly like what they’ve seen.
Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth tweeted Fulham are ‘in talks’ over the move. That was echoed by both the Mail and Athletic. Adding further fuel to the fire is the Mail’s claim Heerenveen’s Milan van Ewijk is being lined up as a plan C.
With a Brenet move rounding into shape, Cedric is facing the prospect of being stranded at the Emirates.
And with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu both ahead in the pecking order at right-back, Cedric is unlikely to see his severely limited game-time improve over the coming months.
