Arsenal’s hopes of signing Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia appear to have taken a hit after the German international took to Twitter on Monday.
The central defender had appeared on Arsenal’s transfer radar after the Gunners saw Per Mertesacker sidelined with a serious knee injury.
In turn, Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly be keen on bolstering his defensive options ahead of the new campaign, albeit with Rob Holding impressing in pre-season and pushing for a place alongside the likes of Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny and Calum Chambers in the long-term.
As noted by Sky Sports, the German defender has emerged as a top target for the Premier League giants, but it doesn’t appear as though he’s thinking about a move away from Los Che.
Mustafi, a former Everton player, has developed well in recent years and secured a spot in the German squad for Euro 2016 earlier this summer, scoring in their opening game of the tournament before being replaced by Mats Hummels.
While his post obviously doesn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a move to the Emirates this month, it does quieten the speculation some what with Wenger potentially having to consider alternatives to avoid facing further frustration down the line.
The Gunners finished in second place in the Premier League last season, and with just Holding, Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano being added to the squad, Wenger will certainly be feeling the pressure from supporters to strengthen before the deadline.
??? Finally back in training with the team @valenciacf ! ??? #sm5 pic.twitter.com/AgLvpzIslm
— Shkodran Mustafi (@MustafiOfficial) August 1, 2016