Defender could have played last Arsenal game as Lazio ponder €15m bid Shkodran Mustafi could have played his last game for Arsenal, as Lazio are weighing up a bid for the player, according to reports in Italy. Mustafi has not lived up to expectations at the Emirates Stadium since joining from Valencia in 2016. The arrival of Gabriel Magalhaes and return of William Saliba from a loan spell have pushed him further down the pecking order. The German defender is now in the final year of his contract, and will not play until October at the earliest due to injury. Mustafi’s situation has now made him an ideal target for Lazio, who are in the market for a new defender as they look to bolster their squad for a campaign in which they will also have Champions League football to contend with. According to Corriere Della Sera (via Sport Witness), Mustafi has emerged as their top target for before the transfer window closes. He has an “accessible” price tag and a “sale seems likely”. Arsenal are holding out for around €15m for the 28-year-old. Lazio are hoping to lower that fee down to somewhere between €10m and €12m. The Rome-based club would still have to convince Mustafi about personal terms, given that his annual salary of €4m would make him their second highest earner behind Ciro Immobile. They hope to spread those demands over a longer-term contract, with more guarantees of regular gametime, in order to tempt him. If Mustafi was to move to Lazio, it would mark a return to Serie A, after time spent with Sampdoria earlier in his career. Lazio admired him even back then, and it appears their club chiefs are still interested in the World Cup winner. RETURN FOR SOUTHAMPTON MAN AN ALTERNATIVE An alternative for Lazio would be to re-sign Wesley Hoedt from Southampton. Hoedt left Lazio for the South Coast in 2017, but his last appearance for the Saints came in November 2018. He has since spent time on loan at Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp. The Dutchman previously spent two seasons in Serie A, and is hoping to return there to revive his career. According to Corriere Dello Sport, Hoedt has contacted Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, with both parties interested in completing a deal. However, they must get their clubs to negotiate, with Southampton’s €8m asking price a potential stumbling block unless Lazio can sell some players first. Instead, Lazio could look to take him on loan with an option to buy. The post Defender could have played last Arsenal game as Lazio ponder €15m bid appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Shkodran Mustafi could have played his last game for Arsenal, as Lazio are weighing up a bid for the player, according to reports in Italy.

Mustafi has not lived up to expectations at the Emirates Stadium since joining from Valencia in 2016. The arrival of Gabriel Magalhaes and return of William Saliba from a loan spell have pushed him further down the pecking order.

The German defender is now in the final year of his contract, and will not play until October at the earliest due to injury.

Mustafi’s situation has now made him an ideal target for Lazio, who are in the market for a new defender as they look to bolster their squad for a campaign in which they will also have Champions League football to contend with.

According to Corriere Della Sera (via Sport Witness), Mustafi has emerged as their top target for before the transfer window closes. He has an “accessible” price tag and a “sale seems likely”.

Arsenal are holding out for around €15m for the 28-year-old. Lazio are hoping to lower that fee down to somewhere between €10m and €12m.

 

The Rome-based club would still have to convince Mustafi about personal terms, given that his annual salary of €4m would make him their second highest earner behind Ciro Immobile.

They hope to spread those demands over a longer-term contract, with more guarantees of regular gametime, in order to tempt him.

If Mustafi was to move to Lazio, it would mark a return to Serie A, after time spent with Sampdoria earlier in his career.

Lazio admired him even back then, and it appears their club chiefs are still interested in the World Cup winner.

RETURN FOR SOUTHAMPTON MAN AN ALTERNATIVE

An alternative for Lazio would be to re-sign Wesley Hoedt from Southampton.

Hoedt left Lazio for the South Coast in 2017, but his last appearance for the Saints came in November 2018. He has since spent time on loan at Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp.

The Dutchman previously spent two seasons in Serie A, and is hoping to return there to revive his career.

According to Corriere Dello Sport, Hoedt has contacted Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, with both parties interested in completing a deal.

However, they must get their clubs to negotiate, with Southampton’s €8m asking price a potential stumbling block unless Lazio can sell some players first.

Instead, Lazio could look to take him on loan with an option to buy.

 

The post Defender could have played last Arsenal game as Lazio ponder €15m bid appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Samuel Bannister