The Spanish journalist also expressed reservations about the Gunners’ pursuit of the defender.
Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has been giving his thoughts on Arsenal’s pursuit of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi for Sky Sports, and he had interesting news on the projected transfer chase, as well as outlining his perception of the player.
With the Gunners extremely short defensively after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, as well as fitness concerns surrounding Laurent Koscielny, Arsene Wenger is said to have identified the German international as the man to come in (Mirror), though he won’t come cheap, as highly-respected journalist Balague explained.
“Valencia as a club need to sell,” he is quoted as telling Sky Sports. “The Valencia coaching staff want to keep Mustafi. Arsenal are not paying what Valencia want which is near €40m.
“Valencia are also saying they do not want to sell a key player in the last week of the transfer window. Arsenal say they do not want to pay ahead of his real value. So that is where we are.”
Guillem Balague
Balague went on to make it clear that he had reservations about Mustafi’s suitability for the Gunners, and the transfer fee it would take to bring him to England.
“I do not think Mustafi is good enough for Arsenal but there are not many good centre-backs available in the market right now,” Balague added. “He would be a slight improvement on their current centre-backs but he is not worth the fee suggested.”
24-year-old Mustafi’s career has blossomed massively in the last three seasons, with a breakthrough campaign with Sampdoria seeing him make Germany’s World Cup squad in what ended up being a historic triumph for Jogi Low’s men.
Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi celebrates with teammates after scoring
On the back of that season Mustafi secured a big-money move to Valencia, where he has enjoyed regular appearances, albeit in two contrasting years at the Mestalla. His first year saw Los Che secure a top-four spot, and a better defensive record than Real Madrid, but the season just gone was a disaster for Valencia, as they crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers and flirted with relegation under Gary Neville before improving under Pako Ayestaran and finishing in 12th spot.
Mustafi was involved in both the successes and failures of his time in Spain, but as a young defender there is still plenty of room for him to grow.
And Arsenal supporters will be hoping that Balague has undercut his reading of the defender in relation to the Londoners, if he is to make what could end up being one of the club’s biggest ever transfers.
Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi celebrates after scoring
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