Arsenal Trying To Push Through Deal For £20m International Amid Chelsea Interest

The summer transfer window is in full swing so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal step-up their interest in Shkodran Mustafi…

Arsenal are set to hold formal talks with Valencia over a possible £20m deal to sign centre-back Shkodran Mustafi amid interest from rivals Chelsea, according to the Sun.

Arsene Wenger is keen to bring in another central defender after Per Mertesacker was ruled out for five months with a knee injury while Laurent Koscielny is also set to miss the start of the new season as he’s not due to return to pre-season training until next week.

Mustafi has emerged as a prime target for the Gunners in recent weeks with Sky Sports News reporting last week that the north Londoners had opened initial talks with Valencia over a potential deal.

BBC journalist David Ornstein confirmed on Thursday that Arsenal have a solid interest in signing the defender this summer but could face competition from Chelsea with the Blues also understood to be showing a keen interest in the 24-year-old.

Antonio Conte has already signed midfielder N’Golo Kante and striker Michy Batshuayi since being unveilled as the new Chelsea boss but the Italian tactician is planning to strengthen his defensive options over the coming weeks with Mustafi seemingly on his radar.

However, it looks as though Arsenal are now ready to steal a march on their rivals as the Sun claim the Gunners have arranged to hold formal talks with Valencia director Jesus Garcia Pitcarch over the coming days in order to try and thrash out a deal.

The newspaper says that Arsenal were offered Mustafi through an intermediary and are now ready to try and push through a move after Wenger officially gave the go-ahead to signing the German international.

The report suggests that Valencia are keen to get an agreement in place as they’ve already lined-up Napoli’s Raul Albiol as a replacement and the Spaniard’s are understood to be willing to do business at £20m, despite Mustafi’s buyout being set at £42.4m.

Valencia are currently over in London preparing for their pre-season friendly with Crystal Palace on Saturday so you’d expect the talks with Arsenal officials to take place over the coming days.

We’ll have to wait and see how the negotiations go but Mustafi would be an excellent signing for the north London club if they manage to get a deal agreed as he’s a top class centre-back who’s also comfortable at full-back, so would provide Wenger with plenty of options in defence.

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However, until Arsenal get a deal in place there is still time for Chelsea to try and hijack their attempts to sign Mustafi so I’m sure Wenger will be keen to try and get a move finalised as soon as possible.