FORMER ARSENAL DEFENDER TO LEAVE SCHALKE FOR FREE

Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi will be leaving German Bundesliga club Schalke 04, the club have confirmed. The German defender was deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal and was allowed to leave Arsenal at the end of last season after his contract expired. Following his Arsenal departure, the central defender moved to Germany and joined Schalke on a free transfer as a free agent but his time at the club is said to be over now.

Mustafi will be leaving the club after only three months and can now start discussing with a new club he wishes to join in the summer. The former Arsenal star came under huge criticism and scrutiny for his lackluster performances toward the end of his Arsenal career and hoped he would revive his fortunes by moving to another club in a different league.

After joining Schalke, the German central defender performed well in his first few games and impressed the manager but after his first month, his performance levels dropped and he lost the faith of the manager before being dropped to the bench.

Mustafi and David Luiz used to be Mikel Arteta’s central defensive pairing option at Arsenal but his loss of form became an issue of major concern to the Spanish manager which led to his free transfer away from the Emirates club.

Before joining Schalke, Russian Premier League outfit Spartak Moscow showed interest in signing Mustafi and they are expected to still return for him this summer in a bid to help him put his career back on track. He could also be tempted by the offer Spartak are making to him; a two-year deal which would see him play a major role in the club’s ambition to win the Russian Premier League title next season.