Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Shkodran Mustafi as Valencia Confirm Sale Needs

Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch has said the club need to sell a centre-back in order to meet financial fair play rules amid rumours Arsenal are pursuing Shkodran Mustafi.

The news came courtesy of Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol:

Per SuperDeporte (h/t Tom Coast of Sport Witness), Pitarch said: 

"

We’re above the FFP guidelines, that’s the reality, and as of today, the four players we’ve signed cannot be registered, meaning we need to reduce the cost in a significant manner to register the players and sign a centre-back, which is a priority in case one of the ones at our club leaves.

Obviously, if they don’t leave, we can’t sign a new one not only because of financial restrictions, but also because it wouldn’t be logical to have five or six centre-backs. We need to continue with a reduced budget, but if there’s an exit, we need a new centre-back.

"

Coast noted that fellow Valencia centre-back Aymen Abdennour has also been linked with a move away. However, the Evening Standard's James Benge believes the German is the one who will be on the move:

Indeed, if Los Che are hoping to free up their budget, it seems likely that Mustafi would generate a bigger sale.

Football journalist Guillem Balague supplied further details, though he questioned the 24-year-old's suitability to the Gunners:

Football writer Liam Canning is an admirer of Mustafi, though:

Mustafi is an upgrade on all of Arsenal's current central-defensive options with the possible exception of Laurent Koscielny. Per Mertesacker is regularly exposed by pace, while Gabriel Paulista is perhaps not convincing enough to be a first-choice starter.

There's potential in Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, but both are young and relatively inexperienced—the pair struggled against Liverpool despite having Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny in front of them.

The German is an excellent reader of the game, and few can match his ball-winning skills, per WhoScored.com:

Mustafi should be able to cope with the rigours of the Premier League, and his presence is sorely needed in the Gunners' back line.

With Valencia needing to sell him, Arsenal must take advantage of the situation and secure his signature—without a strong new centre-back, it's difficult to see them maintaining a title challenge this year.