Arsenal has been dealt a major blow in their bid to raise money for the signing of either Houssem Aouar or Thomas Partey this summer.
The Gunners have been busy in this transfer window, but they need to sell players before they can sign either of those midfielders.
Reports emerged last week that they will be selling Shkodran Mustafi this summer, with the Italian side, Lazio tipped to land the former Valencia man for £11 million.
That transfer fee will have been added to the £20m that the Gunners banked from the transfer of Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa.
But those plans have now been shattered after Lazio decided to move for an alternative target.
The Daily Express quotes journalist, Fabrizio Romano saying that Lazio has instead moved for their former player, Wesley Hoedt from Southampton.
The defender has struggled since he moved to The Saints and he has now earned a return to the Italian capital on loan.
This will be a big blow to Arsenal’s plans for the season, but the Gunners can sell him to other suitors.
They can also make money from the sale of their other players, but that will delay the signing of their targets and the transfer window is getting nearer to its closing date.
The fact that Mustafi is not fit is unlikely to encourage any Club to buy him during this transfer window.The same logic applies to Chambers.
I agree grandad, i really do believe that if all the CB’s were fit now, Holding would have been the first out the door, followed by Soktratis.
Mustafi and CC were really good and in form prior to their injuries.
since MA took over, Mustafi has been a totally different player, he was our best defender and in that post lockdown restart, he played the best football i’ve seen from him in all his time with us, if that is the real Mustafi, then i would be sad to see him go
Grandad, he looked like he was in full training in recent pictures. I think he is due to be ready some time in October, so there is still a chance we can get him sold. Chambers will be a harder sell since he’s going to be out longer. Sokratis also injured but should be coming back soon. Out of those players, Sokratis needs to go the most since he has no use to use to us anymore and will never play again.
If we are persisting with 3 at the back then Mustafi is one of the starting 3 next to Gabriel and Luiz. Holding is so bad at everything apart from heading but Mustafi is actually better in the air.