Arsenal defender not interested in Newcastle United move or potential switch to Champions League contenders

Cedric Soares looks set to remain an Arsenal player next season despite rumoured interest from Newcastle United and Porto in the Portuguese full-back.

The 30-year old has struggled for regular game time this season but apparently has no interest in leaving the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.

Reports coming out of the player’s native Portugal had suggested that the current Primeira Liga leaders had tabled a £4.2 million offer for the former Sporting Lisbon star while the Italian media have stated that the Magpies have made the player a target.

Here is the latest on what is being reported about Soares’ future beyond the summer transfer window:

Soares has “no interest” in leaving Arsenal this summer

According to Sportwitness, who cite reports from both Portugal and Italy, Cedric Soares has “no interest” in leaving Arsenal this summer despite interest from Newcastle United and Porto.

The report quotes “someone close to the fullback” who reportedly told the outlet: “It’s speculation. There are no offers. Cedric has no interest in leaving Arsenal.”

It is also claimed that despite rumours Porto had tabled a £4.2m bid to sign the player, there have been no official offers made.

Soares has began featuring more regularly from the start for the Gunners in recent matches after Takehiro Tomiyasu began the season seemingly as Mikel Arteta’s first choice right back.

Callum Chambers has also played in that role while Héctor Bellerín will return from his loan at Real Betis in the summer.

The Gunners have also been linked with a move for Middlesbrough full-back Djed Spence who has had a brilliant season in the EFL Championship on-loan at Nottingham Forest.

Soares has played 21 times in all competitions for Arsenal this season and 50 times since his initial 2019-20 loan from Southampton and subsequent permanent switch.

The 30-year old began his career with Sporting CP in Lisbon before first moving to the Premier League in 2015 with the Saints.

He has been capped 34 times by the Portugal men’s national side and scored one goal.

Arsenal linked with Juventus striker while looking to get rid of flop winger

Other transfer news today sees Arsenal linked with a summer move for Juventus’ striker Paulo Dybala who is currently out on loan at Atletico Madrid and is expected to leave the Italian side permanently in the next window.

However, they will face competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur as well as Newcastle United who are all also being linked with the Argentine forward.

The Daily Mail reports that Dybala will quit Juventus when his current contract expires at the end of the season.

Finally, the Gunners have reportedly offered winger Nicola Pepe to an unnamed rival Premier League club for a fraction of the record £72m fee they paid in 2019, according to the Express.

The 26-year old has managed six goals in 26 appearances this season but has not lived up to the hype of his massive transfer fee and the club look set to cut their losses.