Arsenal quoted hefty price for Shkodran Mustafi

Valencia have asked Arsenal to pay a club-record fee if they are to sign German international Shkodran Mustafi this summer. The 24-year-old is the Gunners leading target to fill the defensive void.

Laurent Koscielny is for now the only experienced centre-back at the Emirates with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel out with long-term injuries.

The Gunners have been keeping tabs on the World Cup winner since the start of the month, and it is believed that an opening £26m was tabled for his services last week, The Mirror reports.

However, Los Che seem unwilling to offload their defender this month, unless the Gunners table a £50m offer for his signature.

Manager Arsene Wenger has been reluctant to spend big in the transfer market, and it looks unlikely that they will revive their interest in the former Sampdoria man.

Reports elsewhere suggest that Arsenal have made an approach for Fiorentina defender Davide Astori.