Arsenal have been strongly linked with a deal to sign Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi, as well as being linked with a deal for Barcelona’s Jeremy Mathieu, but both look increasingly unlikely at present.
The experienced French defender is believed to be out of manager Luis Enrique’s first-team plans this season, and being eyed as a possible addition for Arsenal.
Mathieu was then chosen to start the club’s Spanish Super Cup, possibly rubbishing his supposed availability, before being forced to be substituted after picking up an injury inside 30 minutes.
The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, but his injury will likely rule him out as an option, especially as our main need is in the absence of Gabriel Paulista, who is out for the next five to seven weeks.
Mustafi had been claimed to have agreed to join Arsenal, but the Telegraph has seemingly revealed that not only has no fee been met, but the club are refusing to up their previous £30 Million bid, and have not agreed terms either.
Twitter has since exploded with rumours that the Valencia star’s move is ‘off’, although sources are unclear to pinpoint.
All this news comes following the club’s disastrous defensive display against Liverpool, where the club were forced to field an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding against their rivals, who is turn put four goals past them.
We do expect to be able to welcome back Laurent Koscielny to our playing squad for the coming match however, as well as Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, who will be a huge boost to our defensive frailties.
The French centre-half should be able to steer us in the right direction, and another defensive arrival may stunt the progress of one or both of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding.
Will Koscielny’s return be enough to help us get back on track? Or are neither of the English duo ready for a first-team role to cover for Gabriel and Per?