Besiktas and Trabzonspor have joined the race to sign Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares in January.

The two Turkish Super League clubs have sounded out the defender's agent with the 32-year-old increasingly seen as surplus to requirements in north London.

Cedric's contract expires in the summer and he is now open to moving on, having failed to convince manager Mikel Arteta that he has a future at Arsenal.

The full-back, who joined from Southampton in 2020, has played just twice this season for a total of 65 first-team minutes.

Arsenal may demand a small fee for the Portugal international but the priority is getting his £120,000-a-week wages off the books.

Any sale could help Arteta re-invest in a midfielder or striker, which are the main two positions the club feels could be strengthened in the January transfer window.

Arsenal are carefully trying to balance the books to avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions, which was highlighted by the loan deal to sign goalkeeper David Raya for an initial £3m from Brentford, with the rest of the £27m fee to be paid next summer.