Fenerbahce centre-back and supposed Arsenal target, Simon Kjaer, has reportedly picked up an injury.

The defender, who has been linked with the Gunners as a back-up plan in case the Mustafi deal doesn’t go through, was dropped from the Turkish side’s squad to face Swiss Super League team, Grasshoppers, in their Europa League qualification match on Thursday night.

Fenerbahce won 3-0.

https://twitter.com/Turkish_Futbol/status/766333776007929856

There doesn’t appear to be any news on the injury itself, although earlier in the month Kjaer was subbed off in the 36th minute against Monaco after picking something up. This match was for Champions League qualification and Fenerbahce lost. It’s unclear whether this is the same injury, complications to do with this injury or a new one entirely.

https://twitter.com/fbglobalcom/status/760801148953620482

Of course, the immediate response is to be skeptical over whether there is an injury or not considering the speculation surrounding him but, looking back at his history, the defender is no stranger being sidelined:

https://twitter.com/MichaelQureshi/status/640955081978834944

https://twitter.com/TFWpodcast/status/641256210134630401

https://twitter.com/DanishFooty/status/662349674532216832

I’m not sure that we’re genuinely interested in him with us seemingly so heavily on Mustafi’s case, which gives me another reason to believe this is genuine and not a ‘transfer niggle’.

I could be completely wrong, of course.