Arsenal could sanction the surprise sale of Shkodran Mustafi to Inter Milan prior to next week’s transfer deadline. The Germany international had a mixed first season with the Gunners with injuries restricting him to just 26 appearances in the top-flight.
According to Sky Sports News, the World Cup winner has agreed to leave the Gunners for the Nerazzurri, although both clubs have yet to finalise a deal for his services.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have made a bright start to the campaign with two victories in as many games, and they are hoping to secure a temporary move for Mustafi with the option to buy at the end of the season.
However, the north Londoners are said to prefer a straight cash deal instead with the club seeking to recoup the entire £35m sum paid to Valencia last summer.
Mustafi was not at his best form during the Gunners’ 1-0 loss to Stoke City last weekend, and Arsene Wenger was coy when asked about the German’s future in a press-conference on Thursday, he said: “It’s very difficult for me to talk about individual cases.”
Wenger has stressed the need to reduce the first-team numbers prior to the transfer deadline, and he has managed to partially do so with the exits of Gabriel, Carl Jenkinson (loan) and Cohem Bramall (loan) this month.
Kieran Gibbs and Lucas Perez look certainties to leave the Emirates before the end of the month, and Mustafi’s case could be resolved in the coming days with the defender keen on a return to the Serie A, where he previously featured for Sampdoria.
