Arsenal have been constantly exploring defensive options in the event a deal for Shkodran Mustafi collapses before deadline day.
Reports suggest that Villareal central defender Mateo Mussachio is now the latest target for the Gunners with Arsenal ready to pounce with a £12m bid.
Following injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, Arsenal have been left with only one fit senior centre back in Laurent Koscielny. New signing Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, are still seen as back ups and players who are yet to take on such an important responsibility.
Amidst this crisis, a deal for German international Shkodran Mustafi has had it’s ups and downs, with there being a chance that a deal for the defneder will not go through.
Following this development Arsenal have looked at the likes of Omer Toprak and Kostas Manolas, even West Brom’s Jonny Evans. According to The Metro, the latest player to move onto this Mustafi-Plan-B list is Villareal centre half and Argentine, Mateo Musacchio.
According to the paper Wenger is preparing a £12m move for the Argentine central defender, who becomes the 4th defender to be linked with Arsenal ever since the Mustafi deal has been reportedly hanging in the air.
The Villareal No.5 has been at the club since 2010, and has made 166 appearances for the club. Musacchio partnered Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista for a couple of years at Villareal. Were he to arrive at the Emirates, the two South American centre halves would be reunited, this time in the Premier League.
It can be said with some conviction that this influx of reports linking Arsenal with a plethora of ‘top’ class defenders, regardless of their price tags, is becoming confusing for readers and those who spend time speculating the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of transfers.
At the face of it, it seems highly unlikely that Villareal would sell the Argentine. The La Liga club have already lost Eric Bailly to Manchester United, who was ironically bought by Villareal as a replacement for then Arsenal-bound Gabriel Paulista.
At present, The Yellow Submarine have only 3 orthodox central defenders in Musacchio, Victor Ruiz and Italian veteran Daniele Bonera, while captain Bruno Sariano has at times been deployed as a centre back. In light of these realities, it seems unlikely that Villareal would be willing to sanction a move.
