Arsenal transfer news: Shkodran Mustafi sparks Italian interest as Gunners prepare to loan out William Saliba

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi is attracting interest from several Serie A clubs, sources told CBS Sports, as the Gunners prepare to cut their central defensive roster in January.

It remains to be seen whether the German will be among those joining William Saliba on his way to the exit door next month.

Arsenal are said to be open to selling Mustafi next month if an offer materializes for the 28-year-old, who is out of contract this summer. With his contract ending, from December 31, he is free to chat with any team outside of England during a summer transfer on a free transfer.

Mustafi featured prominently in manager Mikel Arteta’s plans last season before a hamstring injury sidelined him until mid-October. Since returning, he has not started a Premier League game and was responsible for a high-profile mistake in Arsenal’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Lazio expressed interest in Mustafi last summer, and sources close to the player said there remained interest in Italy in the 2014 World Cup winner. CBS Sports football insider , Fabrizio Romano, understands that Roma could see the player as a save option for a central defensive group that includes Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez and Marash Kumbella.

AC Milan are also a potential landing point for Mustafi, but are already in talks with Strasbourg center-back Mohamed Simakan and also have Schalke’s Ozan Kabak on his wishlist.

Mustafi is not the only Arsenal defender to be free to negotiate with foreign clubs in January with Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz also both terminated at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal intend to loan out Saliba, who signed from Saint-Etienne for $ 30million in the summer of 2019 and who has yet to play a senior game for the club.

The 19-year-old spent last season on loan with Saint Etienne and came close to joining The Greens in October only for a deal to collapse in the last minutes. Attempts to find a temporary club for Saliba in the league have also proved unsuccessful, with the Gunners unable to find a club that meets their long list of criteria.

Arteta told CBS Sports last night that the club’s hierarchy are discussing loan options for Saliba, who has been excluded from a heavily renewed squad for the loss to Manchester City. “He cannot be involved because he is not part of the squad,” replied the Arsenal manager when asked how close the youngster is to being selected. He added: “We have made this decision with him and we will see what we are going to do in January.”