There’s strong interest in Shkodran Mustafi from Italy, including from Lazio, but a potential move is unlikely before the final days of the transfer window.

Football.London write that Lazio are among the clubs with an interest in Shkodran Mustafi in the current window, but Arsenal are still waiting to receive their first formal bid for the player. It’s likely a potential move will have to wait until late in the window.

Napoli and Inter Milan are lurking, but all potential suitors are biding their time. Arsenal reportedly want £15m for the defender, and buying clubs hope they can delay to reduce the fee.

Sam Dean also reports the interest from ‘a couple of clubs’ in Mustafi. But again, he adds that the situation is still in the early stages, and the player isn’t even desperate to leave.

After all, the 28-year-old found a regular place in Mikel Arteta’s team before his injury. He’s happy in London and was winning over some of the critics back in July.

The biggest changes since then (other than that injury) are Arsenal’s defensive additions. William Saliba is finally here, and Gabriel Magalhaes is quickly nailing down a starting role. By the time Mustafi is back, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers will be too.

That’s in addition to David Luiz, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding, all starting at centre-back regularly right now. We’re also assuming Sokratis Papastathopoulos doesn’t stay.

It’s hard to say for certain, but it looks like Mustafi would be kidding himself if he sticks around expecting to slot straight back into the starting lineup.