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According to football.london, Arsenal and Shkodran Mustafi are in talks over ending his contract six months early. Mustafi hasn’t played since Boxing Day, and with Calum Chambers returning to fitness, plus the Gunners’ exit from the FA Cup, there is simply no need to have six centre backs on the books.
Mustafi has played 47 minutes in the Premier League this season, with a majority of his game time coming in the Europa League and Carabao Cup. Initially a first choice defender under Mikel Arteta, Mustafi has fallen behind Rob Holding in preference, while the arrival of Gabriel and return of Pablo Mari means that David Luiz has been able to play on the right side of defence, lessening the need for Mustafi.
Should Mustafi terminate his contract early, he would follow Sokratis and Mesut Özil in doing so. Arsenal bought Mustafi in the summer of 2016, for fee in the range of £35m.