The more days go on, and with another Arsenal defender succumbing to injury, Shkodran Mustafi makes increasing sense.
The German international spent time in his early career with Everton, so he knows England. Mustafi is familar with several players in the Arsenal squad, due to his international career.
He’s 24, yet has a huge amount of experience, including playing for Sampdoria in Serie A, and he can also operate at right back, providing an option for those expected/unexpected injury crisis periods.
Over the past week, Mustafi and Valencia have been training on the outskirts of London, around a half hour drive from Arsenal’s training ground. The situation looked perfect for a speedy transfer.
Valencia still need to sell in order to meet FFP requirements, and although Mustafi isn’t the player they’d most like to see the back of, he’s very much an option.
Plaza Deportiva report that Valencia continue to look at Napoli’s Raul Albiol, and have an alternative in Deportivo La Coruna’s Sidnei. Over at Super Deporte it’s claimed Valencia are rivalling Fiorentina for Vedran Corluka.
Super Deporte have nothing to offer on Mustafi to Arsenal, but Plaza Deportivo do, in another article. They say Arsenal are interested in Mustafi, but are aware a deal would be difficult because Valencia won’t sell for less than €30m, which doesn’t really seem too difficult.
They’re no longer mentioning the failed Arsenal bid of €18m, almost certainly because that was nonsense generated by Twitter, and there’s no claims of contact.
Valencia would rather sell Aderllan Santos and Aymen Abdennour, but without takers it becomes difficult. They’re looking for replacements for both, with the claims today suggesting they want Albiol and Sidnei.
This one seems all set up for an Arsenal approach, and actual bid. Claims of AC Milan interest don’t appear hugely concrete, but Chelsea keep popping up in sporadic reports.
