Arsenal have been trying to reduce their wage bill with reports claiming that Unai Emery wants Shkodran Mustafi out of the club.
Shkodran Mustafi joined the Gunners in 2016 from Valencia and last season, the 27-year-old played in 31 Premier League games for the Gunners. But his silly mistakes cost the club a large number of points all throughout the season.
Initially, during the summer, it was being claimed that Shkodran Mustafi would be part of Emery’s defensive line up next season but now that the club have signed David Luiz, Mustafi has fallen down the pecking order.
Back in July itself, there were reports that the Gunners want to offload Shkodran Mustafi from their ranks but much to their frustration, they have been able to find a buyer for the defender.
BBC’s David Ornstein has claimed that the Gunners want to send the former Valencia man out of the Emirates as soon as possible.
“Arsenal in talks with number of clubs over Shkodran Mustafi exit. 27yo (contract until 2021) wants to stay + prove himself.” he had written on Twitter.
“But AFC want permanent or loan departure. Also, hope to bolster central defence pre-deadline & retain interest in Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney.”
And now if reports are to be believed then the North London club are willing to send him out on loan just so that they do not have to pay his £80,000-a-week wages during the upcoming season.
The report states: “Arsenal have three weeks to shift the 27-year-old on, and The Sun say he may exit on loan just so the club do not have to pay his £80,000-a-week salary this term.
“His valuation at the Emirates Stadium has dropped to just £15m despite being bought for £35m from Valencia three years ago.
“A number of Italian clubs are said to have been alerted to his availability, including AC Milan, Lazio and Sampdoria.”
While a permanent sale remains the priority for Arsenal but they are also willing to offer Shkodran Mustafi on loan to clubs like Fenerbahce and Galatasaray both of whom have been previously linked with the defender.
Now it remains to be seen whether any of the interested clubs can actually come to an agreement over the transfer before the end of the month.
