Per Mertesacker has recently suffered a serious knee injury and Arsenal are now short of experience in the defence area. The London club’s most of the transfer window talks were about strikers, but very few noticed the importance of strengthening the defence. And now the need is even greater, the Gunners are reportedly eager to land Valencia centre half Shkodran Mustafi as a replacement of Per Mertesacker.
? The boss announces in his press conference that @Mertesacker will be out for “a few months” with knee injury pic.twitter.com/I11EbobQlN
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 26, 2016
Adrian Kajumba, a renowned journalist of the Daily Mirror, have reported that the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is on a hunt for a centre half and Shkodran Mustafi and Fabian Schar are on the top of his list.
German international Mustafi began his career at Everton and then proved himself during his days at Sampdoria and Valencia, which earned him a place in the Germany national team in the EURO 2016.
The Swiss international, Schar has also impressed playing alongside new Arsenal man Granit Xhaka. The defender has been brilliant playing for Basel and Hoffenheim.
Many sources claim that Per Mertesacker’s injury might just have triggered and boosted Arsenal’s move for defenders.
Prognosis on Per Mertesacker is more serious than even Wenger suggested tonight. At least five months out is the expectation
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) July 26, 2016
BREAKING | Arsenal have contacted Valencia regarding a move for Shkodran Mustafi, according to @plazadeportiva_
— Get German Football (@GGFN_) July 27, 2016
German journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft has also suggested the same:
Re: Mustafi
Makes sense that Arsenal will look the German-way (again). With Mertesacker out and quality centre halves hard to find
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) July 26, 2016
Mustafi might seem as a better choice, considering their current forms but Schar has some great talents, he has pace, strength which makes him versatile, the 24 year old Swiss international is a ball playing centre half.
Despite signing young centre half Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers, Wenger is concerned of lacking experience in the Arsenal back-line: “We will see some of our young centre-backs on Thursday as well. With Per being out, we are a bit short on the experience front and we are looking to bring somebody in.”