With a certain journalist claiming that Shkodran Mustafi could sign for Arsenal by Wednesday, we decided to dig into the current rumours surrounding this transfer saga.
Journalist, Emanuele Giulianelli, has once against claimed that Mustafi to Arsenal will be done with 72 hours (now 48), unless Valencia find another club to sell him to, that is.
This isn’t the first time this particular journalist has claimed to know when the German centre-back is signing for us. In fact, just last week he said that Mustafi’s medical was set to take place Monday. Oh yeah, that’s today and yet, we see no Mustafi medical. Nor do we see anyone else talking about one happening.
Mustafi medicals with Arsenal expected to be on Monday. #afc
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) August 18, 2016
There’s also this little gem from July, claiming that we were trying to get a forward signed first. Not sure what happened to that… We still could, of course, but it’s not looking likely.
Obviously Mustafi isn't the big deal. He's an option for CB – though Murillo remains a target. Club want to get forward sorted first #AFC
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) July 25, 2016
In a piece for Tribal Football weeks ago, he was slightly more vague, claiming that there was just a ‘good chance’ of the transfer happening.
So, what’s happening now?
Well, Spanish football expert, Guillem Balague, is now claiming that Valencia don’t want to sell and that Mustafi’s release clause is €50m. This is all despite Wenger saying just days ago that we were still in negotiations.
Latest from Sky expert Guillem Balague: Valencia don't want to sell Arsenal target Mustafi. They say he won't leave. Release clause €50m
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) August 21, 2016
Have the negotiations actually fallen through or are Valencia just putting pressure on us? I’m sure we’ll see very soon. But the clock’s ticking.
The countdown has begun. Tick tock.