Arsenal On The Verge Of Signing £25m Star, Despite Last-Minute Chelsea Interest

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently confirmed Arsenal are in the market for more reinforcements in the defensive and offensive departments and, ever since the news broke that Per Mertesacker could be missing as many as five months of action due to injury, Arsenal have been linked with one defensive signing or another.

According to virtually all the English media, and many of the German publications and websites, Arsenal are on the verge of signing Valencia and Germany international centre back Shkodran Mustafi. The news was first broken by Sky Sport Germany and ever since then, many other media outlets have confirmed that we are actually interested in the signing of the World Cup winner.

Chelsea are also said to be interested in signing the former Everton star, according to the Express, but bookmakers BetStars have revealed the German is now likely to sign for Arsenal despite last minute interest from Chelsea, who are also looking for a centre back. BetStars have Arsenal priced as favourites to sign Mustafi at 11/8. While the odds of Chelsea signing him ahead of Arsenal is 15/8. This is despite Chelsea being the forerunners for his signature, just last week.

“The battle for the signature of Shkodran Mustafi looked a one horse race until the last 48 hours, when a new frontrunner has emerged in Mustafi the market,” said a BetStars spokesman. 

“Arsenal are now the 11/8 favourites to sign Mustafi ahead of bitter London rivals Chelsea, who have drifted from 5/4 favourites a week ago to 15/8 to secure the German defender’s services.”

This is good news for Arsenal. We certainly could do with the German, especially with Per Mertesacker clocking 32 in September and out injured for the next five months. The signing of Mustafi, if it happens, will ensure Arsenal have at least three very experienced centre backs to call upon in Koscielny, Gabriel and Mustafi himself. Both Chambers (if he doesn't leave on loan) and new signing Rob Holding will fight it out as the fourth choice.

Mustafi, according to various reports, will be in London tomorrow to team up with the rest of his team mates for pre-season and Arsenal will hopefully use the opportunity to hold further talks with him to convince him his long-term future lies with us and not with Valencia.