Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi is interested in a move away from the Emirates, but the Gunners are understandably having none of it at this stage of the transfer window.
According to reports in The Sun, Shkodran Mustafi is eyeing a transfer that will see him join European giants Inter Milan, just twelve months after his £34 million transfer from Valencia. However, selling the player – let alone a defender – is Arsenal’s worst nightmare with less than two weeks left for the transfer window to shut.
The eventual transfer fee that Arsenal paid for the German could go up to £35 million including add-ons. The 25-year old is still regaining full fitness after his exploits with Germany in the Confederations Cup. Mustafi made 26 appearances for the Gunners last season, scoring twice.
Arsenal’s defensive frailties were exposed as they conceded three goals against Leicester City on the opening weekend. And with Gabriel Paulista on his way to Valencia, and Per Mertesacker in his last season with the Gunners, the last thing Arsenal would want is to let go of Mustafi, especially after investing so much in him.
If anything, Wenger could probably do with signing a defender.
Inter Milan are reported to be gauging the player’s interest at this point as the Nerrazzuri’s boss Luciano Spalletti looks to add a defender to his squad. The Serie A club were linked to quite a few of Europe’s top players in the summer, but hardly any of the deals fructified and Spalletti has instead been forced to make low-profile signings.
However, Inter sent across a statement of intent as Ivan Perisic is set to sign a new contract with the club, and this will be a major confidence booster and they might believe they could snap up Mustafi’s signature even in the twilight of the transfer window.
Arsene Wenger has other more important headaches to deal with at this stage, and while Mustafi might be sizing up his options to engineer a transfer, it could eventually prove futile.
Wenger’s sole attention has to be towards ensuring that the club can retain the services of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who are all still to sign a new contract.
