Cedric Soares is set to become Arsenal’s second defensive signing of the week after agreeing a loan move until the end of the season.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Cedric, who is out of contract at Southampton at the end of the campaign, has the option of signing a four-year deal at Arsenal at the end of his loan spell.

His arrival, if confirmed as expected, will follow the completion of Arsenal’s move for defender Pablo Mari, who joined from Flamengo on Wednesday.

Arsenal are understood to be paying a minimal loan fee, below £1 million, to Southampton for Cedric, who has been at the club since 2015 and was a Euro 2016 winner with Portugal.

Cedric was consistently one of Southampton’s better performers for most of his time on the south coast but he fell out of favour under manager Ralph Hassenuttl last season and moved to Inter Milan on loan.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has been looking to bolster his defence in this window and the additions of Cedric and Mari will provide him with more options at centre-back and in both full-back positions.

Cedric can operate on the right and the left, where teenage winger Bukayo Saka has been deputising in recent weeks following injuries to Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney.

On the right of the defence, Cedric’s arrival will provide back-up to Hector Bellerin and could allow Ainsley Maitland-Niles, nominally a midfielder, to return to his natural position.