Shkodran Mustafi is likely to remain as an Arsenal player for the upcoming season despite the firm interest that Inter Milan have showed in the defender.
The Arsenal transfer spectrum was shaken when news broke of Arsene Wenger’s choice to loan out the German international for the season despite signing him less than 12 months ago.
Mustafi turned out to be a late £35million purchase last summer after months of negotiations, but reports earlier this month suggested Wenger wasn’t completely happy with his impact.
The 25-year-old struggled to get to grips with life in the Premier League and although he played with passion and leadership qualities, was often at fault for many of Arsenal’s defensive mishaps.
But as things start to get even crazier in this window, Sky Sports News have revealed Arsenal’s preference is to keep hold of Mustafi as they’ve failed to find a decent replacement.
A move for 29-year-old West Brom centre-back Jonny Evans looks impossible and having already let Gabriel and Kieran Gibbs go, Wenger can’t afford to lose another defender.
Inter have offered a £4.6million fee to take Mustafi on loan that will include a clause given them a choice of signing him for just £23m if he plays in over 50% of the Italian club’s games.
That won’t be enough to tempt Arsenal into letting go of Mustafi, who is now expected to stay at Arsenal and prove his worth against the likes of Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal.
Mustafi’s one appearance this season came during the 1-0 loss to Stoke City where he was subsequently dropped for the trip to Anfield (and we all know how that went).
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