Arsenal star wants to leave Emirates as agent begins talks with 3 clubs - Reports

Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares is reportedly set to leave this summer, with La Liga side Villarreal and other top European clubs interested.

According to TEAMtalk, teams from the Premier League and Portugal's Primeira Liga could be potential landing spots for Soares. The report adds that informal discussions are underway between the defender's agent and three Portuguese clubs.

Soares, 31, is expected to leave Arsenal on a permanent deal this summer, with his contract set to expire in 2024. He was notably left out of the Gunners' squad for their ongoing pre-season fixtures in the United States. Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who're also expected to leave the Emirates this summer, didn't make the cut either.

Soares joined Arsenal permanently in the summer of 2020, having initially joined on a loan deal in January that year. Injuries prevented him from getting a consistent run of games, playing just 30 times between January 2020 and the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Portuguese, though, feature 25 times during the 2021-22 season, starting 15 of their last 17 Premier League games. However, the arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White's emergence as a reliable right-back made him third-choice at the position.

Soares played only four games for the Gunners in the first half of last season before joining Fulham on loan in January this year. He featured eight times for the Cottagers before returning to the Emirates at the end of the season.

Cedric Soares has made 59 appearances across competitions for Arsenal, scoring twice and laying out five assists.

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Jurrien Timber's arrival could push Cedric Soares further down the pecking order at Arsenal

Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Jurrien Timber earlier this month after paying AFC Ajax around €40 million for his services. The Dutchman made his debut this week, coming off the bench in the Gunners' 5-0 thrashing of MLS All-Stars at the Audi Field in Washington D.C.

Timber is expected to provide Mikel Arteta's side with versatility. During his time at Ajax, the 22-year-old largely operated as a centre-back but also played as a right-back, left-back and in central midfield.

With Arteta preferring for his full-backs to press forward into midfield when his side have the ball, Timber could be an instant lock to start for the Gunners. However, with White and Tomiyasu in the squad, Cedric Soares could have played his last game at the Emirates.