With Arsenal’s deal with Valencia for Shkodran Mustafi looking like it might have a hit a price snag (shocker) Sky Sports are reporting that Arsenal have identified another two targets should they fail to land the German.

Bayer Leverkusesn’s Omer Toprak (27) and Simon Kjaer (27) from Fenerbahce are said to be on the radar of the Gunners who are reportedly not prepared to pay what Valencia want for the defender they don’t want to sell.

I saw this report on an Italian site, who say they got it from Sky Sports, but knowing how they get their stories and the nationalities of the players/clubs involved, I’d be fairly certain that they’ve picked up this rumour from the Turkish press. Well, the part of the Turkish press that isn’t in prison, at least.

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - JULY 25: Oemer Toprak poses during the official team presentation of Bayer Leverkusen at BayArena on July 25, 2016 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel via Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – JULY 25: Oemer Toprak poses during the official team presentation of Bayer Leverkusen at BayArena on July 25, 2016 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel via Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Toprak could be looking a way out, recently telling reporters, It is not certain whether I will stay at Bayer Leverkusen, we still have a month and anything could happen until them.”

It’s hard to know what is really going on with the Mustafi deal as it has all become so muddy with claims and counter claims, that the truth was lost long ago.

Were Arsenal interested in the first place? Yes, they were, but even the player admitted the deal was ‘difficult.’

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 29: Simon Kjaer of Denmark controls the ball during the International Friendly match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park on March 29, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 29: Simon Kjaer of Denmark controls the ball during the International Friendly match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park on March 29, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty)

When you want a club to sell a player they don’t want to lose, you have to offer far more than he is worth to land him.

That’s not how Arsenal do things, much to the frustration of many of our fans.

While it was understandable when we were in the ‘period of austerity’ post-stadium move, if Arsenal now want to be seen as a big player on the world stage, sometimes, to get the man they want, they’ll have to pay what it takes, not what they think he’s worth.

It’s like refusing to pay a builder to fix your leaky roof because you think he’s charging too much. Sure, you can shop around for a cheaper alternative, but if it rains in the meantime, you risk your whole roof collapsing and your house having to be rebuilt.

It’s raining, Arsenal.

Look out your window.

It’s raining a lot.

[it’s also worth noting that Sky Sports also reported that Arsenal had a €32m bid accepted by Valencia which appears to be far from the case]