Arsenal have not given up hope of signing the Germany international defender Mustafi this summer according to SkySports.
Per the source, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed interest in the Valencia centre-back.
“Mustafi? We hope it will be done He is one of a number of players we are looking at. Negotiations are ongoing,” Wenger was quoted as saying by SkySports.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has however, revealed that Valencia do not want to sell Mustafi and that he will play for the La Liga outfit today.
Balague underlines that Arsenal would have to pay €50 million to activate Mustafi’s release clause if they are to sign him.
VFC don't want to sell and are saying he wont go! He'll play tomorrow. Only doubt: will AFC pay €50m buyout clause? https://t.co/mcNxbLoems
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) August 21, 2016
Wenger could be forced into seeking alternatives and he does have his eye on Bayer Leverkusen star Omer Toprak according to the Daily Star.
Toprak is available for less than Mustafi and has years of Bundesliga and Champions League experience behind him.
The 27-year-old defender has two-years remaining on his contract but has hinted that he may consider a summer exit.
The Turkey international was quoted by Turkish-Football.com as saying: “It is not certain whether I will stay at Bayer Leverkusen, we still have a month and anything could happen until them.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuLlpGF-Oyk
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