Journalist Charles Watts cheekily suggested West Ham sign Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi after Sam Inkersole reported the Hammers were on the hunt for a new centre-back.
Inkersole, who is the Hammers correspondent for Football.London, revealed that the Hammers wanted a new centre-back before the transfer window slams shut but that they don’t have much of a budget left to get one.
“West Ham want a new centre back before the end of the transfer window next week,” wrote Inkersole, via his verified Twitter account.
“Not much money available to do it, but that’s now the priority with just under a week to go. The Hammers have leaked 10 goals in five pre-season friendlies.”
West Ham want a new centre back before the end of the transfer window next week. Not much money available to do it, but that’s now the priority with just under a week to go. The Hammers have leaked 10 goals in five pre-season friendlies.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) August 2, 2019
Inkersole’s update on the Hammers need for a centre-back saw Watts, who is the Arsenal correspondent for Goal, suggest the Hammers go for Mustafi, as he sent a picture of him, and Inkersole responded by being dismayed.
“Absolutely not. I’ll personally pay Arsenal to keep him. Or let Palace have him,” wrote the journalist.
Absolutely not. I'll personally pay Arsenal to keep him. Or let Palace have him.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) August 2, 2019
OPINION
Mustafi isn’t popular at Arsenal and it’s unlikely he’d be welcome to the London Stadium with open arms. The 27-year-old, who earns £90,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), was part of Arsenal’s leaky defence last season which conceded 51 goals in 38 league games. However, it is worth noting that Mustafi averaged a rating of 7.05 across his 31 league outings, winning Man of the Match on two occasions, and impressively won four aerial duels per game (Source: WhoScored). So perhaps Arsenal fans are too harsh on him, yet given how he is viewed as being a factor in the Gunners having a leaky defence if the Hammers signed him, it’s fair to say a lot of fans would be dismayed until he proves them wrong. Yet it seems that scenario isn’t destined to even occur as it’s extremely unlikely that Mustafi will end up being considered an option for the Hammers to sign. Mustafi may be available on loan, so could work with the Hammers’ tight budget but BBC reporter Dave Ornstein recently stated on Twitter that the player was determined to stay at the Emirates and prove himself.
