Shkodran Mustafi set to stay at Arsenal as Inter Milan rule out further signings

James Benge30 August 2017

Inter Milan director of football Walter Sabatini has ruled out the arrival of Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal, declaring the Italian giants’ transfer window dealings complete.

Arsenal were open to the prospect of moving on Mustafi a year after recruiting him for £35million but wanted to recoup as much of their outlay as possible.

Inter preferred to loan Mustafi with an option to purchase at the end of the season, a deal that did not appeal to Arsenal.

Though the Nerrazzuri had been keen to add to their defensive options, and had also been linked with West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna and Manchester City’s Eliaquim Mangala, they have settled for their current options.

Sabatini told reporters: “We won’t make any more signings. It has been a pragmatic transfer campaign.

“Mustafi? We made an attempt, but we decided to ‘recycle’ someone else.”

Juventus had also been linked with Mustafi, who was left on the bench during Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, but have signed the World Cup winner’s compatriot Benedikt Howedes from Schalke on loan.