There was a time when Shkodran Mustafi was determined to remain at the Emirates and fight for his place but that has all changed with his father, who is also his agent, admitting that it is in his sons best interest to leave Arsenal before the European transfer window shuts on September 2nd.
Earlier this week Arsenal manager Unai Emery confirmed that he had told both Mustafi and Mohamed Elneny that they should look for another club and that they were unlikely to see much first-team action this season.
It seems the message has finally got through to the German defender that he has no future at Arsenal.
Mustafi’s father Kujtim, while accepting that his son does need to find another club has however warned that it is not that straightforward and does depend on the sort of deal being offered.
“Shkodran had a great time with Arsenal,” Kujtim Mustafi told Sky Sport Germany. “We still have a contract for two years and can imagine a stay in London.
“However the best for both sides is probably to work on a transfer. But for that, it also needs market-driven transfer-fees.”
In better words, he is signalling to Arsenal not to price Mustafi out of a lucrative payday.
The bigger the transfer fee the less the signing on bonus for the 27-year-old and like any good agent, his father is determined that his son will squeeze as much as possible from Arsenal.
This is really just a sideshow, the bottom line is that everyone is now in agreement that Mustafi will be gone in the next 8-9 days providing a club is interested in his services and prepared to pay Arsenal’s asking price, whatever that may be.