Arsenal are set to turn their interest in Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi into an official bid in the coming days, according to Matt Law of the Telegraph.
Following injuries to Gabriel and Per Mertesacker over pre-season, Arsene Wenger is left with just three centre-backs ahead of the opening league game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday.
Laurent Koscielny may still not be fit enough to start the game against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in six days time after his long Euro 2016 campaign with his nation France, and the report suggests a bid of around £20 million will be made in the next 48 hours in order to get an experienced defender in the side for Sunday.
A bonus for the Gunners in the race to sign Mustafi is that there are no other clubs in the running to sign the Germany international, with Matt Law saying that Chelsea prefer Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Twitter: Chelsea not in for Mustafi or Manolas – Koulibaly remains the primary defensive target with club hoping for a breakthrough #cfc (@Matt_Law_DT)
Valencia may have to settle for a deal worth half of the player’s €50million release clause, with Los Che in desperate need of finances after missing out on European football for the coming season.
Arsenal have also been linked with a £15million move for West Brom defender Jonny Evans in recent days, with Wenger reportedly hoping to sign at least one of Evans or Mustafi by the weekend.
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