Spaniards Demand £50m From Arsenal To Fund Swoop On Chelsea

The summer transfer window is drawing to a close so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, Valencia are playing hardball over Shkodran Mustafi…

Valencia are demanding a whopping £50m from Arsenal for defender Shkodran Mustafi to help fund a swoop on Chelsea for out-of-favour attacker Pedro, according to the Mirror.

Arsene Wenger has seemingly made Mustafi his prime target as the Gunners boss desperately looks to strengthen his defensive options before the window closes after losing Gabriel and Per Mertesacker to injury.

Arsenal have been working hard trying to thrash out a deal for the German international in recent weeks and Wenger confirmed to Sky Sports after the 0-0 draw at Leicester that negotiations were continuing as we approach the final week of the window.

However, it looks like Valencia are playing hardball as the Mirror now claim that the La Liga outfit are demanding a whopping £50m for Mustafi’s signature – a figure that Arsenal have understandably baulked at.

The newspaper suggests that Arsenal’s chief transfer negotiator Dick Law has been in Spain trying secure a deal with the north Londoners ready to pay around £25m and offer Mustafi a four-year contract, but Wenger has been forced to look at alternative targets after being quoted £50m.

The Mirror claims that Valencia have demanded this inflated price as they plan to use the money to fund a move for Chelsea attacker Pedro with director of football Jesus Garcia Pitarch expected in London for talks with the Blues this week.

Pedro has struggled to establish himself as a first team regular since moving to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona last summer and it looks as though Valencia are now ready to offer him an escape route back to Spain.

However, they need the money from Mustafi’s sale to fund the move and Arsenal are also aware that the La Liga outfit need to raise money to meet Financial Fair Play guidelines, so Wenger is still hoping to drive the price down for Mustafi.

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It’s certainly going to be an interesting final few days of the window and I personally think that Arsenal will eventually secure a deal for Mustafi, but I’m not so sure that anything will come of Valencia’s interest in Pedro.