Throughout August, it seemed like Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi, much to everyone’s surprise, could end up at Inter Milan.
Even Arsène Wenger wasn’t sure what would happen, with claims he was ‘ready to do without’ the German for the current season.
In the end, however, Inter never got their man, and Arsenal, recent injury aside, have benefitted from keeping him around, losing just one league game (1-0 against Stoke City) when he’s been in the starting line up.
Down their end, the Serie A side have surprised everyone, currently sitting second in the league, and that with just three fit centre-backs.
This means that a new centre-back is certainly something they’re looking at in January, and Gazzetta dello Sport bring the Mustafi story back, although they do admit it will be far more difficult than in the summer.
His goal against Tottenham will only have secured his place in the team some more, and they ask the question: “How do you convince them?”
While the player might still be attracted in returning to a league he knows well from his time at Sampdoria, Arsenal, especially midway through the season, won’t be impressed at the idea of Mustafi leaving.
That doesn’t mean they won’t give it a try, and the fact the idea has returned means something could build over the coming weeks.
