Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Aaron Ramsdale and Cedric Soares are likely to leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners are having a brilliant season under Mikel Arteta with Arsenal’s win over Brentford 11 days ago seeing them top the Premier League after rivals Liverpool and Manchester City drew 1-1.

Romano: It’s 100% going to be time for them to part ways

Arsenal, who have also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, are now top on goal difference from second-placed Liverpool and Man City are one point adrift of their two title rivals.

Their success this season has seen limited game time for Ramsdale with Raya taking over in net early in the season and made the number one spot his own, while Soares has only made five appearances in all competitions.

And Romano has revealed that it’s “100% going to be time” for Soares to leave in the summer, while Ramsdale – who has been linked with Chelsea and Newcastle United – “can’t stay at Arsenal on the bench”.

Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “I wanted to clarify something on players who could leave Arsenal this summer. As I reported yesterday, Cedric Soares is not going to extend his contract at Arsenal – it’s over between the player and the club, and there is not even a conversation to extend his contract. It’s 100% going to be time for them to part ways at the end of this season.

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“Soares has some possibilities around Europe and Arsenal are looking at different solutions in that position. The experienced Portuguese full-back will of course remain professional until the end of his contract, then he will make a decision on his next move, and he could have a number of options.

“Turkish clubs, including Besiktas, already wanted Soares recent months, but he decided to stay. Now he will have multiple options around Europe. Nothing is close at the moment but I’m told Cedric will consider different opportunities in order to make a final choice in the summer, not now.

Romano: Ramsdale can’t stay at Arsenal on the bench

“Aaron Ramsdale is another player to watch as he wants to play more. We know Arsenal are going to make David Raya’s transfer permanent after his fine performances since joining on loan, so what does this mean for Ramsdale’s future?

“Although the England international has been a fantastic professional this season, and has supported his teammates, especially Raya, he wants to play, and at the end of this season it will be time for him to look at new solutions. He can’t stay at Arsenal on the bench, and so he will explore options around the market to find a new solution.”

Liverpool appear ready to move into the transfer market yet again this summer to sign a new central defender.

The Reds have been very busy during the off-season so far, signing Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.

Milos Kerkez is set to join Liverpool this week as Arne Slot readies a team to try and retain the Premier League title.

Once Kerkez is through the door, a new striker is likely to be targeted, as well as an additional centre-back.

Liverpool agreed a deal to sell Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, leaving them with only three senior centre-back options.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has been linked with replacing Quansah, but the England international is reportedly ready to snub interest from Anfield.

Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Marc Guehi ready to reject Liverpool move

Liverpool know they cannot go into the season with only three centre-backs. They tried that in 2020/21 and found out the hard way that it is simply not feasible.

As a result, it should be a near certainty that another defender is signed, and with one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park, Guehi is an attractive option.

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According to journalist Ben Jacobs, though, the 24-year-old will prioritise a move depending on the game time available to him, and this could mean rejecting the chance to join the champions.

“Marc Guehi is not going to extend at Crystal Palace, that is our understanding and it means there’s two options,” Jacobs told TalkSPORT. “One is that he stays at Palace, gets the game time, hopefully gets into the World Cup squad and leaves on a free transfer. And from Guehi’s point of view he is prepared to entertain that possibility.”

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“Palace on the other hand want to sell him, this is their only opportunity to bring in big money. There could be a halfway house with a January exit of course for a fee, but Palace want to sell.

“Palace have asked in the past for £65-70m and now the asking price is more like £50m, maybe a little bit more with add-ons,” adds the reporter. “It remains to be seen whether interested suitors are willing to pay that much.”

“Liverpool are the latest club to be exploring this deal. A lot will depend not just on who can agree on a fee with Palace, but whether you can persuade Guehi he’s going to get the game time.

“He’s going to have to understand whether he can get enough game time to be firmly in the plans of Thomas Tuchel and that’s why at the end of the day even if he gets a lucrative offer, the player may actually still decide to stay at Crystal Palace.”

Who are Liverpool’s other options?

As Rousing The Kop revealed last week, Liverpool’s interest in Guehi relates to the future of Ibrahima Konate. As a result, he is not their only centre-back target this summer.

The Reds are more interested in signing a young defender of similar profile to Quansah in order to plug the gap created by his exit.

Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera has been looked at as an option, while a return to try for Chelsea’s Levi Colwill has not been completely ruled out.

Guehi will remain on Liverpool’s radar, but if he is signed, it is likely to be as a replacement for Konate, meaning game time should be less of an active issue.