Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Shkodran Mustafi and Lukas Klostermann Rumours

Arsenal have suffered a setback in their pursuit of German defenders Shkodran Mustafi of Valencia and Lukas Klostermann of RB Leipzig after it was claimed deals for the pair are not close to completion.

German magazine Kicker (h/t the Express' Charlie Phillippe) quoted Mustafi’s representative Ali Bulut denying a deal has been completed with Arsene Wenger for the Valencia centre-back.

Bulut said: "There are talks, but there is no agreement—neither between Arsenal and Mustafi nor between Valencia and Arsenal."

Sky in Germany (h/t Sky Sports News HQ) reported that the player has agreed to move to the Emirates Stadium, as Sky Sports' Marc Behrenbeck noted the Gunners are hoping to finalise the deal with the Liga club:

Arisson Marinho/Associated Press

Leipzig director Ralf Rangnick told Kicker (h/t James Cambridge of the Express) the Gunners do not currently have a deal to take their Germany Olympics representative Klostermann away from the Bundesliga.

Rangnick said: "For us there is no association [with Arsenal] as has been reported," after Bild (h/t Cambridge) reported Wenger was interested in the 20-year-old full-back.

Mustafi has become a primary target for the north London club after Wenger admitted he is short of options at the heart of his defence.

Wenger told talkSPORT:

"

We are short on the experience front and this, centre-back, is a position where experience plays an important part. Of course we will look to add, we are working on it, but until Sunday I have to find an internal solution and an efficient solution.

"

WhoScored.com highlighted why the Arsenal manager likes the Germany international:

Football writer Liam Canning admitted he thinks Mustafi would be an excellent purchase for the Gunners:

Here is the Los Che player in action:

The start of the Premier League has appeared to have crept up on Arsenal as it did last summer, and Wenger is in desperate need of outfield recruits, especially in defence.

Klostermann has plenty of potential as he develops in the German league, but he is not better than the current crop of youngsters in Arsenal's squad.

However, Mustafi is the essential signing of the current window if the Gunners have real aspirations to challenge for the league crown.

At present, Arsenal are short of numbers in central defence and they could leak a number of goals unless the manager quickly moves for a new leader to provide balance in his back four.