Arsenal have agreed terms with Valencia’s Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to the player’s agent.
Ali Bulut told the German website Spox that a deal for the 24-year-old had been agreed in principle. “It now just remains for the teams to come to an agreement over the fee,” he said.
If the deal goes through, Mustafi – valued by Valencia at £25m – would replace Arsenal’s long-term injury victims Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista.
Gabriel faces up to two months out with an ankle injury suffered in the pre-season friendly against Manchester City in Sweden, while Mertesacker will be missing for four to five months with a knee problem. Laurent Koscielny, meanwhile, is not yet match fit after his involvement in France’s run to the Euro 2016 final.
The defensive crisis had left Arsène Wenger with a dilemma over his selection for Sunday’s Premier League season opener at home to Liverpool – with Calum Chambers likely to partner Nacho Monreal, and Kieran Gibbs at left-back.
Mustafi joined Valencia in 2014 for €8m having impressed at Sampdoria. He had previously spent an unhappy three years at Everton, having moved to England aged 17.
