Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi is reportedly being eyed by Inter Milan in a shock season-long loan move, with the option of making it a permanent deal
According to a report by The Mirror, Inter Milan are considering a season-long loan move for Arsenal’s German defender Skhodran Mustafi, with the option of making it a permanent deal for a sum north of £20 million. The Italian club are understood to be determined to make the move happen before the transfer window ends next week.
Shkodran Mustafi joined Arsenal a year back in a £35 million deal from Valencia. While he did make a strong start, the German failed to remain consistent on field due to a string of injury concerns. He picked up an injury towards the end of December last year, following which he could never stage a strong comeback.
Mustafi made 26 appearances for the Gunners last season, scoring twice. The 25-year old’s time with Germany in the Confederations Cup saw him do very little on the field, thus raising questions over his capabilities.
Although he was a part of the starting line-up against Stoke last weekend, Mustafi could not make an impact as the Gunners succumbed to a shocking defeat. While it might seem surprising for Arsenal to sell a defender at a time when their back line is in shambles, the money could prove to be beneficial for Arsenal to secure Virgil van Dijk.
Arsenal’s defensive weaknesses were there for the world to see as they let Leicester score three easy goals during the opening weekend. Getting defeated by Stoke was the final nail on the coffin for the Gunners. The situation appears all the more drastic since Gabriel Paulista is on his way to Valencia while Per Mertesacker is in his last year.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan are looking to add a defender to their squad. The Serie A club were linked with several of Europe’s top players in the summer, but none of those deals materialized, forcing Spalletti to make a few low-profile signings.
The potential deal with Inter Milan could see Arsenal receive some funds, which could be allocated to secure the services of the highly sought-after Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk. Considering Arsenal’s dire need for quality defenders and Mustafi’s inability at producing results, this seems to be the ideal option for both sides.
