Lazio are after Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, though the two clubs remain a few million apart in their valuations of the player.
Reports in Italy from LLSN suggest a potential Lazio move for Shkodran Mustafi is gaining momentum. Arsenal are willing to negotiate for the defender and value him at €15m, but could consider €12m.
Lazio are reportedly willing to offer €10m, so there’s still a gap to bridge. Corriere della Sera claim a deal could happen between €10m and €12m, though.
Mustafi is open to the move, and there are ongoing conversations. He’d need to lower his wage demands, with Lazio only offering a little over half of what Arsenal are paying him. Napoli are also reportedly in the mix.
As we know, Mustafi is currently recovering from a serious hamstring injury. He should return to full training in October, and he’s already running and taking part in light ball work.
The centre-back should be fit enough to complete an adapted medical, though. Rather like Gareth Bale did joining Spurs despite the fact he’s apparently out for a month. So if Lazio meet Arsenal’s demands, the move could still happen.
From an Arsenal point of view, it would be a good sale. Mustafi finished last season strongly, pre-injury, but he’s in the final year of his deal, Arsenal need money, they have too many centre-backs and need to trim the non-homegrown section of the squad.
So despite Mustafi’s upturn in form, a sale for €10-12m seems too good to turn down, for me.