German defender Per Mertesacker is currently out of the Arsenal squad due to a long-term injury but is expected back in action in a couple of months or so. But with Gabriel also suffering an injury just before the start of the season which left Wenger with very little options at the back.
The Frenchman decided he needed to invest in the transfer market and eventually signed Shkodran Mustafi for a fee of 25 million. The German international has adapted very quickly to the Arsenal system and has formed a great partnership with Laurent Koscielny
With Holding and Gabriel as backup to their current regulars, it might leave Mertesacker with too much competition. He might fear for his playing time with the Gunners and the likeliness of him moving to another club in January looks very possible.
The lanky defender has admitted he could leave the club as well if he gets good offers in the transfer window. Speaking to the media earlier he said,”I look at the perspectives for me and my family, and I think that I’ll intensify those thoughts from January on. That’s also the time when you can listen to other things [offers] when your contract is expiring.”
Several clubs could be in the for German most of them German clubs but his former club Werder Bremen look the most interested to bring him back to the Bundesliga. His first club, Hannover who are in the second division are also interested by Bremen are favourites for his signature.
Their Sporting director Frank Baumann told Bild that Per could be joining them this season or the next. Baumann played alongside Mertesacker at Bremen for three years and could use that friendship to lure him back to the club.
The veteran would also be allowed to take part in a managerial programme with the club according to the German newspaper. Mertesacker’s former Gunners teammate and countryman Serge Gnabry is already at Bremen after impressing in the Olympics this summer.
Baumann also said that the move for Mertesacker was discussed when Gnabry was brought in by the club. “In the course of Serge's transfer, we also talked about his [Mertesacker's] future.”
It would be sad to see the German leave the club considering how well fit the partnering role with Koscielny. He took some time to adjust to the Premier League but has been a vital cog for Arsenal since he joined the Gunners in 2011.
The German’s contract runs out at the end of the season and if Arsenal decide against offering him a new contract then he could move on
