Arsenal Transfer News: Shkodran Mustafi Rumours After Per Mertesacker Injury

Arsenal will reportedly have to pay a fee of €25 million (£21 million) if they’re to land Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia this summer.

With Per Mertesacker ruled out for “a few months” with injury, according to manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners are a little short at centre-back as things stand.

Mustafi has been tipped as a potential option, and according to Cadena Cope (h/t Lorenzo Bettoni of Calciomercato.com) Arsenal could land the player for the amount mentioned.

Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror has reported that the Gunners are keen on signing the Germany international and also suggested an offer of €25 million would be enough to sign Mustafi, despite a release clause of double that amount in his contract.

Indeed, Malyon added that Arsenal’s interest “was welcomed by the Mestalla club as an opportunity to get some much-needed funds on board.”

Since joining Valencia, Mustafi has gone on to establish himself as one of the most intelligent defenders in La Liga. Here is a look at why he’s so highly rated:

Although Mertesacker can be maligned by supporters, the defender brings a strong presence to the back four, assisting the Gunners in coping with any aerial bombardments.

Mustafi may not be a stylistically similar centre-back, although he’s proved to be extremely effective at Valencia. Here’s how he fares in direct statistical comparison to his veteran compatriot:

	Mustafi	Mertesacker
Apps (sub)	30	24
Goals	2	0
Tackles per game	2.7	1.1
Interceptions per game	4.4	1.5
Clearances per game	5.3	4.5
Blocks per game	0.7	0.4
Aerial duels won per game	3	2.2

While Mertesacker is a colossus dealing with high balls, Mustafi is a much more dynamic defender. The 24-year-old is at his very best one sniffing out passes down the side of the defence, picking up the runs of attackers quickly and showing shrewd instincts to limit danger.

ANDER GILLENEA/Getty Images

After Valencia lost Nicolas Otamendi last summer, the German had to take on more responsibility at the base of the team. And while Los Che did struggle for long periods of the season, Mustafi showed a willingness to step up and be the leader at the back. It’s the kind of authority Arsenal have lacked when the going gets tough.

As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, he relishes his defensive duties and is extremely committed:

Given the kind of numbers being bandied around for a lot of potential signings this summer, the sum touted for Mustafi does seem like a bargain. Especially for a side like Arsenal that could definitely do with some replenishment in this section of the pitch.

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Laurent Koscielny remains an elite centre-back, but with Mertesacker ageing and the jury still out on Gabriel Paulista, he does lack a partner of similar standing. Mustafi has the class to be that man.

Squawka Football’s Greg Johnson thinks that a host of European football’s top clubs should be looking to land the defender:

The main hole in the Arsenal squad remains at the point of the attack, with Olivier Giroud not quite good enough to make the most of the team’s surfeit of creativity. It’s meant the defensive side of this Gunners squad, particularly at centre-back, has been somewhat overlooked. Another high-quality operator in this area would be a huge boost.

With that in mind, Mertesacker’s absence could well be a blessing in disguise, as Wenger will be provoked into signing a new defender. If it is Mustafi and he is partnered with Koscielny, the stricken 31-year-old could find it very difficult to get back in the starting XI.