Arsenal defender closing in on January exit: report

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi could be heading through the exit door this month with his representatives scheduled to hold talks with Galatasaray regarding a possible move.

The Germany international has fallen out-of-favour for the centre-back role in the Premier League this season and he has made just one start in the top-flight.

He has, however, been used in the Cup competitions but of late, there are question marks over his future with manager Mikel Arteta leaving him out of the matchday squad for three games on the bounce.

According to Fotomac, it is claimed that the 2014 World Cup winner has hired new representatives, who have offered his services to Turkish champions Galatasaray.

The same outlet suggests that the player’s entourage will make the trip to Istanbul in the coming days where they are expected to either negotiate a temporary or permanent transfer for the defender to Galatasaray.

Mustafi has made two substitute appearances under Arteta and his most recent one came in the 2-1 league defeat to Chelsea, where he was easily turned by Tammy Abraham, who scored a late winning goal.

Since then, the German has not been named in the teamsheet and it appears that he could be heading through the exit door before the end of the month.

Mustafi’s departure would leave Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos as the only back-up central defenders behind David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Holding has yet to impress after his recent injury comeback while Mavropanos remains relatively inexperienced. It will be interesting to see whether the club will look into a replacement, suppose Mustafi secures a fresh challenge elsewhere.