Arsenal’s Mustafi set for winter stay as Gunners defence become too light to allow departure
Arsenal have worked on a number of player’s departures this window and it has left Arteta now in need of keeping defender Shkodran Mustafi.
Last Updated: January 14, 2021 7:25 pm
Arsenal’s proactive January
Arsenal have been on a determined run of form in both the league and their proactiveness in the market to move on players deemed surplus to requirements. Bosnian international Sead Kolasinac was loaned out to Schalke until the end of the season. The 27-year old was signed from the German club several years ago but has ultimately failed to establish himself as the club’s number one left-back with the arrival of Kieran Tierney.
Arsenal have got Sead Kolasinac’s MASSIVE wages off their books #AFChttps://t.co/ov4jUwkDBF
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 1, 2021
The reportedly high wage was important for The Gunners to move off of the bill as soon as possible ahead of a more permanent move in the summer should one materialize.
Arsenal’s finances are typically ones which have an element of restrictiveness about them and so where money can be saved by moving players on or temporary loaning of talent, Arsenal are clearly in the market to make things happen.
Nice’s French defender William Saliba (L) is challenged by Metz’s French forward Thierry Ambrose during the French L1 football match between Football Club de Metz and OGC Nice at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-Les-Metz, eastern France on January 9, 2021. (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP) (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty Images)
William Saliba, the young French centre-back arrived from St Etienne in 2019, has also left on loan for Nice in France. The 19-year old is considered to be a high-profile prospect however minutes in the senior squad were not available and Arsenal want him to be playing and so, therefore, a loan move back to his native France made a lot of sense.
The biggest possible departure would be that of former German international Mesut Ozil. The 32-year old has been linked with moves to both Fenerbahce and DC United and could forego a large amount of money in order to secure a move away from the Emirates. This is something which Arsenal would be reportedly very interested in as the amount of money could rise up to a figure in the region of £7 million.
Mesut Ozil is prepared to forego the roughly £7 million ($9.5m) still owed to him by Arsenal to leave the club on a free, reports the Athletic. pic.twitter.com/w6yrpo4t1b
— Goal (@goal) January 13, 2021
Mustafi set to stay
However, one player whose future seems to be still in the red and white of The Gunners is that all German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi. The former Valencia defender was linked with a move away from the club as his contract expires in the summer. Clubs such as Barcelona were monitoring the situation with their own injury issues at the back.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta though is seemingly counting on the long-serving German to remain at the club until at least the end of the season as Arsenal’s defensive numbers thin with the departures that the club has sanctioned.
“His future right now is here. We have Papa that probably is going to leave this window, William has already gone on loan, so we don’t have that many right now. Gabi’s been out now for a period, David has been injured, so the situation is different to before,” said Arteta.
Arteta on Mustafi:
“His future right now is here. We have Papa that probably is going to leave this window, William has already gone on loan, so we don’t have that many right now. Gabi’s been out now for a period, David has been injured, so the situation is different to before.” pic.twitter.com/0zfs7yopWO
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 14, 2021
Arteta mentioned the likely departure of Sokratis who has been linked With a move to Real Betis in Spain. The Greek defender has not played a single minute of senior football for Arsenal this season after being omitted from the Premier League and Europa League squads.
Arsenal defender Mustafi and Antonio Rudiger named as potential January targets of Barcelona
Quotes: Agent in Barcelona ‘because of Shkodran Mustafi’ as Arsenal defender nears exit door
This article was edited by Josh Barker.
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| 2 | Manchester City FC | 18 | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 19 | 14 | 38 |
| 4 | Liverpool FC | 18 | 16 | 34 |
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| 8 | Chelsea FC | 19 | 10 | 29 |
| 9 | Southampton FC | 18 | 5 | 29 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 16 | 11 | 26 |
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| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 19 | -11 | 23 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 19 | -8 | 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle United FC | 18 | -12 | 19 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 19 | -7 | 17 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 17 | -13 | 16 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 18 | -12 | 12 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | -28 | 11 |
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| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 11 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 11 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 8 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 8 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 6 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Abraham, Tammy | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 5 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
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| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 6 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 5 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 5 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 6 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 5 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
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| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 4 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 5 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 0 | 4 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 4 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 4 |
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| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 7 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 4 |
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| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 4 |
| Chilwell, Benjamin | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 4 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 3 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 3 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 3 |
