Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi has agreed personal terms with Arsenal but a fee is yet to be finalised between the two clubs, according to a report.
The Gunners are desperate to bring in a new central defender before their Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday after losing a number of players.
Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista are long-term absentees with knee and ankle injuries respectively, while Laurent Koscielny has yet to reach match fitness following his Euro 2016 exertions.
Arsenal are understood to have opened fresh talks with Valencia over a £25m deal for Mustafi earlier this week, but Sky Sports News reports that nothing has yet been signed as the teams haggle over a fee.
It is claimed that Mustafi is keen to join the North London outfit, however, and would be eligible to feature against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium should he be registered in time.
Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy may be called upon to fill in at centre-back on Sunday afternoon, while the often-overlooked Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding are also available.
Daniel Lewis
