Arsenal are set to complete the deal to bring Shkodran Mustafi to the Emirates very soon, despite conflicting reports suggesting the move was off.
Popular and reliable journalist David Ornstein had confirmed that Arsenal were in the final stages of completing the deal, with just a fee to agree with Valencia.
The BBC Sport reporter went on to reveal that Arsenal had options of Simon Kjaer and Omer Toprak as back-up should the deal with Mustafi collapse due to Valencia’s reluctancy to sell on the cheap.
Arsenal yet to agree fee for Mustafi. #AFC considering Omer Toprak & Simon Kjaer as alternatives but Mustafi remains priority & keen to join
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) August 15, 2016
Arsenal fans have been waiting for weeks to finally have the German international confirmed as an official player, but that wait could soon be over according to his friend and former teammate.
Having played together at Sampdoria, Roberto Soriano has recently signed for Villarreal with the hope of settling in to the new country under his friend Mustafi.
But his comments Spanish newspaper Marca, which have been transcribed by Sport Witness, suggest that it won’t be the case with the 24-year-old heading for the exit door.
I was hoping Mustafi would help me adapt to life in Spain… and now he goes.
It might look as if everything is confirmed, but Arsenal are yet to offer a significant fee for the centre back due to other potential targets in the transfer window.
Arsene Wenger is believed to be keen to hold back funds to be used for a landmark striker signing, so it’s good and bad news for the frustrated supporters today.
We are expecting this deal to go through before the Leicester game on Saturday so sit tight, Mustafi remains the priority signing in defence for Wenger so as soon as a fee is agreed we should have confirmation.
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