Arsenal In Talks With Agent Over Deal For La Liga Defender

The summer transfer window is now open for business so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal open talks with Shkodran Mustafi’s agent….

Arsenal have made contact with the agent of German defender Shkodran Mustafi to discuss a potential deal for the Valencia centre-back this summer, according to the Daily Star.

Arsene Wenger has already brought in three new signings this summer including highly-rated England under-21 international defender Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers last week.

However, the 20-year-old is yet to test himself at the highest level so the boss is expected to dip in to the transfer market for a more established central defender over the coming weeks.

Our need has been heightened following reports that Per Mertesacker is facing up to five months on the sidelines with a knee injury so with Laurent Koscielny set to miss the start of the new season due to his late return to pre-season training and Gabriel currently out with tonsillitis, we desperately need reinforcements at the back.

It looks like Wenger has now stepped-up his interest in Mustafi as the Daily Star are quoting Emanuele Giulianelli as saying that Arsenal officials have made contact with the defenders representatives to discuss a possible move to the Emirates.

The Italian journalist claims that we opened talks with Mustafi’s agent last week and he’s now considered a target along with Inter Milan defender Jeison Murillo but any deal is likely to be put on the back-burner until Wenger signs a striker.

The Daily Star quote Giulianelli as saying:

“Last week contacts between Arsenal and the agent of Shkodran Mustafi, German defender.

“Obviously Mustafi isn’t the big deal. He’s an option for CB – though Murillo remains a target.

“Club want to get forward sorted first.”

Following a two-year spell with Sampdoria, Mustafi joined Valencia in 2014 and has been a huge success at the Mestalla Stadium where he’s forged a reputation as one of the best centre-back’s in Spanish football.

The 24-year-old is now a regular in the senior Germany squad after representing his nation at every youth level and he was part of Joachim Low’s squad at this summers European Championship finals in France.

I don’t think there is any doubt that Arsene needs to bring in another established defender following the news of Mertesacker’s injury and Mustafi would be a very useful addition as he’s also capable of playing at right-back if required.

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However, I’m sure Valencia will do all they can to keep hold of him and they are under no immediate pressure to sell as he’s under contract until 2019, so we could have a fight on our hands in luring Mustafi to north London this summer.