Monday, December 23, 2024

Reports: Arsenal target Valencia centre-half as BFG replacement

Various reports say that Arsenal have targeted Valencia centre-half Shkodran Mustafi as their need for a central defender intensified in the wake of Per Mertesacker’s injury.

The BFG damaged his knee in the friendly against Lens last week and is expected to be out until well into the new year, and Arsene Wenger has already admitted that they need to add an experienced defender to the squad.

His name first surfaced yesterday and a story on Plaza Deportiva – which appears to be a Valencia based web portal – says that Arsenal have been in touch with the La Liga side about the German international who joined them from Sampdoria two years ago. The player is apparently keen to make the move.

Valencia have been a bit strapped for cash in recent times, and another Spanish based journalist Tweeted this a little while ago:

Whether that’s Valencia trying to start some kind of public auction we’ll have to just wait and see. Mustafi does have some experience of England, having spent time with Everton between 2009-12, but he was young and didn’t start a Premier League game for them in that time.

Since then he’s gone on to represent Germany 12 times, and at 24 he does fit the bill in terms of the player profile we’re looking for. Wenger could also get some scouting updates from Mesut Ozil and ex-Gunner Lukas Podolski if he really needed them.

As ever though, it’s hard to know how much truth there is in it, so we’re going with a fairly neutral 5 on the Poo-o-Meter until we get a bit more info. Feel free to rate yourselves.

Note: The new Poo-o-Meter will crash the iPhone app so please use Safari until we can get that fixed.

Related articles

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

76 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
swongken

Him. Mahrez. Lacazette or Morata.

Petit's Handbag

Well said, that will keep us happy and give us no reason to complain. COYG

Awesomesauce25

Let’s be honest. If we purchase 2 of those 3, and no CB, then some of us fans would definitely complain before the year is over. Some of us will complain all the way until we win the title, and then i wouldn’t doubt we’ll start complaining that winning the title just means we begin another 10+ year wait for the next title.

Bob's Mexican Cousin

Some of us will always complain 😉

Anonymarse

It’s a hobby of mine

EasyGooner

I like complaining. And turtles.

gordy

And for God’s sake get on with it.

SpendSomeFuckingMoney

We have to be careful with our transfers

Ritesh

“We can’t afford to outgun competitors that have far more money”

Scott P

Given our injury record, I’m hard pressed to trust Cartlidge on anything.

Thaatarsenalguy

Get it done Dicky

neutral

Apparently Wenger is going to stick his Coq and Shkrotum in the center.

Cat Biscuits

He’s good on Football Manager. That’s good enough for me.

Mr. G

And FIFA 16 Career mode!

DontForget

Spend some fucking money.

Elnino

What you at Wenga? Story has been on Arseblog news now for almost 2 hours. You must immediately sign that player I’ve never heard of before or you are a waste of space.

Anup

The new Poo-o-meter is the most incredible invention since the wheel.

Bendtner's Ego

Too man-pretty to be a centerback.

We need an ugly brute with violent tendencies.

Anup

COME BACK TO US BENDTNER

Wenger has a large Coq

Christopher Samba anyone?

Anonymarse

🙂

Eternal Titi Berg Pat Nostalgia

Be Dench or get Frimpong’ed.

Badger

Gabriel has all the pretty boy looks we need at the back.

Big Red machine

Gabriel?

Arsen4ever

What’s your beef? You’ve got Gabriel. Needs only more confidence on the ball.

TeeCee

Obviously we mustafim.

Mpls

Then our defensive Shkodran will be complete.

Pearson

I gave it a three. I’ll take a German international anyday

Sancheezy

So did I. I think this is sensible business and considering their circumstances, I think Dick Law can close the deal within a reasonable fee.

Arseblood

We must have Mustafi.

Matt

This would be a good signing. In case Wenger gets him I really hope it won’t be the last one this summer..

Turstin Fleming

TTA-FG? (taller than average)

Not Mark Strong

Do it and do it quickly, theres no time to waste

Danny

Still think Aleksandar Dragovic would be a good signing too. But sure, Mustafi is great and his price, if that is true, is not that much higher…

Flashmob

I’m afraid that an extra spending of 20-25M will not have a positive effect on our pursuing of those so called of World-class attackers…

Frank

Dont get me wrong hes a good CB but I dont know what Wengers obsession is with going for relatively small CB’s, hes admitted we have problems dealing with areal threats, just get in some enormous brute who can deal with balls in the air then have the other CB as someone who’s better technically

Paul

Site banjaxed again – love it, so exciting! That’s “transfer hungry” isn’t it? Keep rowing Bloggs!! 🙂

APP

Hurry up Arsene…cant let the kids to go against Liverpool and Leicester…

Little Mozart

Mustafi and Lacazette please. I love watching them both play so put them in proper footballing colours.

Paul

“Super, super Shkodran super, super Shkodran”….doesn’t work does it…:-(

Chris Crocker

Anyone noticed the difference between the statements of Arsene Wenger and The Club Re spending power. There is a battle going on behind the scenes with AW on the side of spending. Be interesting to see who wins.

D.C.C.

Hey, it’s Sami Zayn!

JArghS

Woooahhh-oooohhhhh-aaaaoooooh-ooooo.

H18ury

Can you make the poo symbols a bit bigger for those of us who have fat fingers? I meant to give this 8 poos but ended up giving it 9.

BigDave

Can’t we just outbid Chelsea for Koulibaly??? In a dream world huh?

assistantref

He’s good (if not absolutely spectacular) and the price is reasonable in this crazy day and age. Wish he was a couple inches taller – but honestly, I think that’s less important than it used to be. Forwards are a lot shorter than they used to be, particularly top team forwards. And if you use zonal marking your cbs aren’t going to beat an attacker in the air anyway in a straight-up contest due to the running start the attacker gets, it’s more about attacking the ball well to stop the attacker from getting there in the first place, or… Read more »

Ralph77

These are important matters. How about adding a flushing sound to the poop button?

Erzengel

If we’re going German again Benni Höwedes would be an even better option in a perfect world, but prising the older Schake captain away probably far too expensive and unrealistic at this stage…

Fabulous

That’s what I thought. And considering Wenger was in for him a few seasons ago I’m surprised Howedes isn’t being linked.

Indiegooner

Agreed. He can provide coverage as a full back too.

Yorkshire Gunner

He had a very good game in the Euros when I think Hummels had to miss a game and was unlucky to be left out in the next game I thought.

Oooh aaah Ray Parlour!

I live a stone’s throw from the Mestalla and have watched him consistently for the past two years. He was really underrated in a great partnership with Otamendi in his first year and last year he had the almost impossible task of carrying Abdennour and Santos in a season of chaos. I really like him and think he’d partner Kos really well. He needs a settled side and I think we’d be a really good fit for him.

Lars

Can someone enlighten us a bit on his playing style? When I’ve seen him play it seems he often clears the ball rather than pæaying it out. I’ve come to like Koulibaly quite a bit as he is both tall, fast and also capable of carrying the ball forward. At reported €38m he however looks a bit too pricey for what we would normally pay, so Mustafi rumours carry more weight. Have anyone seem them both enough to compare them better than I did here?

Oooh aaah Ray Parlour!

He’s a little bit more no nonsense than Koscielny, but that’s only because he was playing with a team suffering a big lack of confidence. When he was alongside Otamendi they finished 4th and he was the calmer defender while Otamendi was catching the eye with the big tackles and goals.
I don’t know Koulibaly though so I couldn’t compare the two of them.

assistantref

Napoli just sold Higuain, I find it hard to believe they’d also sell their best defender for anything less than absolutely silly money, i.e. 50 million or more. The fans would absolutely revolt.

Lars

Yeah, that seems like a reasonable argument. Maybe the rumours are more about that contract he isn’t quite satisfied with.

thebetterJFK

I pooped!

GunnerDareMACEDONIA

Mustafi is from my home town, he just got married few days ago at my Home town, I wil try to ask some frineds if the rumors are true and if Arsenal is trying to sign him and will get back with exclusive news. He is still here on vacation.

Gooners & Roses

Shoe him how to use the poo-meter.

Fuddemy

We’ll take him and if there’s enough left Mahrez before a striker. We have 15-20 goals from Giroud, mahrez will bring 10-15, sanchez after his rest can bring another 15-20. I’d love to see sanchez, ozil and mahrez supply Giroud

Glocken

While I agree we could do with a bit more experience at the back isn’t it time for Chambers for have a run at centre back?

Unless Arsene doesn’t think he’s going to make it I see no point in loaning him with Per out, let’s see what he can do, otherwise what’s the point in having him?

Alexstratz

Besides the fact that he is short, he has all the other qualities of a good defender and he’s still young with much room for progress.

Dial square

Just seen on Eurosport (France) that Coquelin has been playing CB on tour, and apparently been, absolutely “bossing it”…..just saying.

Stillmatic

People are looking too much into it.
Coq is playing as a CB on the tour because we only have 3 CBs. He’s partnering Beliek as 4 CBs are needed for training.

As for CBs? I heard from an insider that we are looking st Ashley Williams. Probably bollocks but fits the bill.

Nordin

Holding Mustafi??!
Our defence will be impregnable!!

BOB

Our transfer policy need to be a bit more flexible. For players of potential or who will improve on what we have already we can be patient and hunt for bargains. When it comes to positions we NEED like CB or striker we have to be decisive. Find the player we like and buy him (or her… no definitely a him) even if we pay more then we would like to. I do the same when I go grocery shopping, I don’t care how much M&M’s cost I am going to buy those delicious candy coated chocolate drops of happiness….… Read more »

VikingGooner

IF available, which they could be, my priority CB list would look like this, anything else is not really interesting for AFC in my view:
1) Koulibaly
2) Varane
3) Javi Martinez
4) Marquinhos
5) Garay
6) Höwedes
7) Laporte
8) Dragovic
9) Murillo
10) Iñigo Martinez
11) Rakitsky
Mustafi? hmm :/

Rich

Is it just me being an old fart…….? How are so many of you so immediately familiar with his height, especially as the main thing to comment on? Is it a life spent watching players through the prism of Football Manager & FIFA12/13/14/15/16 etc.?? Do you look at the way he plays and judge him, or do you look him up on FIFA or Wiki, then make a decision? Just interested. For the purposes of balance, I’ve done neither, I’ve never heard of the fucker. But a 24 year old German defender with a bunch of caps as a replacement… Read more »

RobC

Wenger says he is looking for experience at CB, right? Most likely scenario, we get another useless signing like Squillaci

kampala gooner

Football manager 14/15/16 sir rich but yeah we also like the fucker

santori

He is a good player and there is every possibility we can utilise him. All depends on pricing. Should be under 20m IMO for Wenger to bite, preferably 15m.

goonshow

Bielik looks the part in the few snippets I’ve seen of him – and he a big bugger and Arsene has been nudging towards centre back rather than defensive midfield. Yes, he’s young but as the saying goes: if you’re good enough… you’re old enough.

Silent Stan

Mustafi, Ben Yedder and Mahrez wouldn’t break the bank

PFo

Can Ben Yedder play as a lone centre forward??? Lacazette can and has (at 5′ 9″) but my guess is that Ben Yedder (at a mere 5′ 7”) can’t, or at least not consistently in the Premier League (I admit I’ve not watched him play except on youtube). If I’m right, then people suggesting he offers a bargain alternative are barking up the wrong tree; this seems to go hand in hand with the tired suggestion that we should switch to a formation in which Giroud plays next to a shorter/faster guy. This makes marginal sense if that lil guy… Read more »

Tasmanian Jesus

Debuted for Germany in 2014, so looks like he kinda replaced Per there too?

Anyway, I want him. Only defenders better than German defenders must be Italian defenders.

..Defenders

PFo

My worry is Mustafi’s another CB on the small side. Would prefer Howedes, but I reckon he’d be too expensive. For a short term, experienced solution, what about Jose Fonte? Likely to be too expensive as well?

Share article

Featured on NewsNow

Support Arseblog

Latest posts

Latest Arsecast

76
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x