At the start of the Summer transfer window Arsenal’s primary goal was to sign an out-and-out striker to challenge for the Premier league title. But now the club’s priority lies at the other end of the pitch. Arsene Wenger desperately needs a defender after Gabriel Paulista was injured in the final minutes of Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Manchester City in a friendly game.
With Per Mertesacker facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury and Laurent Koscielny only returned to training on Monday, the Brazilian’s injury leaves Arsene Wenger in meltdown, ahead of the new season.
If reports in the daily mail are to be believed the Gunners boss have identified Shkodran Mustafi as his main target to solve the defensive crisis. Arsenal are willing to pay Valencia’s asking price of £30m and are looking to finalise a deal before Sunday's Premier League opener against Liverpool.
With rumours circulating that Valencia are also in talks with Manchester City for Eliaquim Mangala as the potential replacement for Arsenal target Shkodran Mustafi. This move could be a major relief for the worried Arsenal fans.
The new Valencia manager Pako Ayestarán only added fuel to the speculations by leaving out the highly rated defender from the 23-man-squad that faces Nigeria-All stars on Wednesday.
If Arsenal fail to reach a deal for the German before 12pm on Friday, then it looks likely that Callum Chambers and Rob Holding could be drafted in as the team’s first-choice centre-backs to face Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Wenger had a horror look on his face when Gabriel was carried off on a stretcher, at the Ulluvi Stadium, however, the injury is not as bad as first feared. Gabriel has given a positive update on the ankle injury, claiming the injury, “is not a big problem”
