I am very glad to hear that Arsenal are not wasting any time in trying to sign a replacement for our World Cup winning centre back Per Mertesacker, after the beanpole German picked up a knee injury in the Gunners’ first pre-season outing against the French club Lens last week.
It seems that Arsene Wenger may just have fallen on his feet here as well, because the player in question. Shkodran Mustafi, was also part of that German World Cup winning squad in Brazil two years ago. He was only 22-years old at the time and so was not a regular first teamer but he did come on twice and would have played more but for a knock that ruled him out.
Mustafi has become one of the first names on the Valencia team sheet since moving to Spain’s La Liga two summers back but the Spanish club need money after missing out on the Champions League qualifying spots last season. That is why they are not only willing to sell him, but according to The Mirror have told Arsenal that we would onmly have to fork out around half of his €50 million release clause.
It appears that this was what Wenger needed to hear because Sky Sports are today reporting that we have already begun the transfer talks. Is it be just a matter of days before Mustafi joins his fellow Germans Ozil and co in north London…