Cedric’s potential summer move to Arsenal has been thrown into doubt as the club are eyeing up a swoop for PSG right-back Thomas Meunier.
According to HLN, as translated by Sport Witness, Arsenal are pursuing a deal for Meunier, who is out of contract with PSG at the end of the season.
Cedric, similarly, is due to become a free agent in the summer as his contract with Southampton comes to an end. However, he could now be left in limbo if Arsenal opt against signing him on a free and instead bring Meunier to the Emirates ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
If this becomes the case, Southampton should try to tie Cedric down to a new deal and keep him at the club next season. The experienced Portuguese international could solve Southampton’s right-back issues whilst the club identify a long-term replacement in the coming transfer windows.
As of right now, Yan Valery is set to be the club’s only senior right-back at the club next season. The 21-year-old has struggled to perform this term and has recorded a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.31 in his nine Premier League appearances, the last of which came in the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle at St. Mary’s.
With Kyle Walker-Peters returning to Tottenham at the end of his loan spell with the club, Cedric could come straight back in as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first-choice right-back. Cedric made 16 Premier League starts in the first half of the season and managed an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.76 – the sixth-highest rating in the entire squad this season.
This means that the fullback could be a good option for Southampton at right-back, for another season at least, whilst the club sign another younger defender as his understudy. Or, Valery could continue to be a back-up for Cedric and attempt to improve his own game by learning from him before eventually taking over the position as his own.
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