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Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi is set to leave for Roma on loan before the Italian transfer window closes this weekend, with the Serie A side given the option to buy him permanently for £23 million.
Mustafi is out of favour at the Emirates, both with Unai Emery and his coaching staff, but also with the fans, who blame him for a series of high profile defensive errors last season, and for his tendency to commit himself unnecessarily in the tackle.
And with David Luiz signed on deadline day, Rob Holding making his way back from injury, and William Saliba waiting in the wings for next season, his first-team prospects in North London appear to be dwindling.
He was left out of Arsenal’s match day squads for both of their Premier League fixtures so far against Newcastle and Burnley.
Roma had been linked with a move for Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren, but were deterred by the £26 million fee the Anfield side were demanding.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.