According to reports, Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi has agreed personal terms with Arsenal ahead of a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Mustafi has agreed to move to the Gunners, although sources say the player has signed nothing and there is no agreement yet between the clubs.
The 24-year-old defender is set to solve a major crisis in the Arsenal squad with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista both ruled out for lengthy periods of time.
And Mustafi’s agent has now confirmed a deal is getting closer, with Arsenal only needing to agree on a fee with Valencia to complete the move.
Ali Bulut told Spox:
Shkodran and Arsenal have reached an agreement, the clubs now only have to agree on the fee
Valued at around £30m, Mustafi is still training with Valencia, and Wenger’s immediate focus is on preparing a team – including a makeshift defense – for Sunday’s Premier League opener at home to Liverpool.
The Gunners must sign Mustafi by 11:00 BST on Friday for the 24-year-old to be registered in time to face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on home soil.
Laurent Koscielny returned to training on Tuesday but has already been ruled out by his manager, who does have England U21 duo Calum Chambers and Rob Holding available.
Mustafi, 24, was on Everton’s books as a youngster and played for Sampdoria before joining Valencia in August 2014.
Mustafi will become Arsenal’s fourth summer signing should he secure a move to North London, following the earlier arrivals of Granit Xhaka, Takuma Asano, and Rob Holding.
His imminent arrival at the Emirates will be a relief to Wenger with the start of the Premier League now just days away.
Good enough for Germany and Valencia, let’s see if the fee gets agreed between the clubs and we get ourselves an established defender.
