Chelsea aiming to hijack Arsenal bid for Mustafi

Chelsea have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia

The defender has been strongly linked with a switch to the Emirates recentlyr, after rising to prominence in the Primera Liga with his current side.

Mustafi failed to make his mark in England previously after joining Everton as a 17 year-old, failing to make it off the bench more than once, earning only one substitute appearance in the Europa League before joining Sampdoria on a free transfer in January 2012.

The former Blue has since made 12 senior Germany appearances, and is linked with a £25 Million move back to the Premier League, with Chelsea now looking to beat the Gunners to his signature.

Arsenal had appeared to be working hard early in the window to shape a squad worthy of pushing on from their second-placed finish last term, moving to agree a deal to sign Granit Xhaka before the official July 1 opening of the window.

They also looked like signing Jamie Vardy from Leicester City after triggering his £22 Million release clause, but after getting snubbed by the England international, things have slowed tremendously.

Rob Holding and Takuma Asano have joined the ranks, but the ineperienced pair are not expected to play key roles in our first-team squad this term, although the defender may be forced to start the season in the playing squad.

Our club is desperately seeking more additions however, with a striker and a defender high on our wish-list, and the latest interest from Chelsea in our target will not be welcomed.

Our hierarchy has insisted more than once that they do not want to fight other clubs for signings, while insisting they cannot compete financially, despite the wealth of money in the coffers due to various profitable dealings in recent years, including the huge TV deal which the whole division is profiting from.

Does Chelsea’s interest mean we can rule out Mustafi’s arrival? This window is growing more and more frustrating…