Arsenal departure could help Liverpool complete defender signing

Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool seldom do business during transfer windows, with the former’s infamous £40,000,001 bid for former Reds star Luis Suarez causing friction back in 2013. 

However, the Gunners may be about to inadvertently lend a helping hand to their Premier League rivals by agreeing to let defender Shkodran Mustafi leave.

A deal has reportedly been agreed for the 28-year-old to return to his native Germany to join Schalke, and that could have repercussions elsewhere in England.

Schalke’s capture of Mustafi could see the Bundesliga side agree to sell Ozan Kabak to Liverpool, with a deal reportedly having already been agreed.

Mustafi looks to be heading back to Germany

Liverpool’s capture of Kazak was reportedly dependant on the German side finding a replacement for the defender before the deadline, but the arrival of Mustafi solves this issue.

According to football.london, the 2014 World Cup winner will terminate his contract in North London before flying out and completing a deal in his homeland.

Mustafi has been offered an extension to his contract, which is due to expire in June, but rejected it and has since been pursuing other avenues away from the Emirates.

The defender, who has not featured for the Gunners since Boxing Day, will join up with former teammate Sead Kolasinac in Germany and is Arsenal’s latest notable departure of the window after Mesut Ozil and Sokratis.

Mustafi’s move to Germany will signal the end of a topsy-turvy five-year stay in the English capital since his transfer from Valencia.