Guillem Balague: 'Valencia need to sell Shkodran Mustafi'

Valencia's new German defender Shkodran Mustafi gives a press conference during his official presentation in Valencia on August 7, 2014
© Getty Images
Valencia "need to sell" Shkodran Mustafi, but Arsenal are not currently meeting Los Che's asking price of £35m, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.

Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Valencia "need to sell" Shkodran Mustafi this summer, but Arsenal are not currently meeting Los Che's asking price of £35m.

Mustafi has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates over the last couple of weeks and it is understood that the German international has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League club.

Balague has claimed that a deal will be completed if the Gunners match Valencia's valuation, but the Spaniard does not believe that the centre-back is "good enough for Arsenal".

"Valencia as a club need to sell. The Valencia coaching staff want to keep Mustafi. Arsenal are not paying what Valencia want which is near €40m. Valencia are also saying they do not want to sell a key player in the last week of the transfer window. Arsenal say they do not want to pay ahead of his real value. So that is where we are," Balague told Sky Sports News.

"By the way, I do not think Mustafi is good enough for Arsenal but there are not many good centre-backs available in the market right now. He would be a slight improvement on their current centre-backs but he is not worth the fee suggested."

Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old, who was part of the Germany squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 earlier this summer.

Valencia's German defender Shkodran Mustafi celebrates his goal during the Spanish league football match Valencia CF vs Granada CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on September 25, 2015
Read Next:
Mustafi in talks with "two or more clubs"
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City22006246
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd22005146
3Hull City22004136
4Chelsea22004226
5Everton21103214
6Middlesbrough21103214
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs21102114
8Burnley21012113
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom21012203
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham21012203
11Liverpool210145-13
12Swansea CitySwansea210112-13
13Arsenal201134-11
14Watford201123-11
15Leicester CityLeicester201112-11
16Southampton201113-21
17Stoke CityStoke201125-31
18Sunderland200224-20
19Crystal Palace200202-20
20Bournemouth200214-30