La Liga Leaks: Arsenal and Chelsea want Mustafi, Real/Sissoko latest

Interest is hotting up for Shkodran Mustafi as teams from all over Europe wait for somebody else to make the next move. According to AS, Antonio Conte wants the German international at Stamford Bridge after failing to lure Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus. Chelsea actually had a €30m bid rejected for Mustafi earlier on in the summer but could be tempted to go back in for him now.

As for Arsenal, they’ve been linked with a move - and bids - for Mustafi in the last month or two but Cadena SER radio confirmed there’s been no official bid from the North London club as of yet. With the news Per Mertesacker will miss the first half of the season, the need for a new defender has never been greater. Can Arsene Wenger release his grip on Arsenal’s funds and pay what is needed to improve his side?

Over at Superdeporte they add another name to the list: AC Milan. There are growing rumours that the once dominant Italian club could be taken over by a Chinese consortium. Where do Valencia and Mustafi figure in here? Well, Jorge Mendes is mediating the takeover and, with strong links to Los Che, could help facilitate a move for the German.

Rafa Benitez appears to be planning for life without Moussa Sissoko after he signed Mohamed Diame from Hull City this week. Benitez said “sometimes it’s worse to keep unhappy players” which we can all assume was directed at Sissoko. However Newcastle United won’t be bullied into selling and have set a €30m price tag. “We’re doing the best we can to protect Newcastle and Sissoko. If he goes hopefully it will be the right price for us.”

Dani Parejo’s troubled time at Valencia doesn’t appear to be getting any better. Yesterday, as he boarded the team bus, Parejo was told to return to the hotel by coach Pako Ayestaran. This meant the former captain had to embarrassingly walk down the steps and go back into the hotel while his teammates went rowing on the River Thames. Pako has been concerned by the player’s attitude and indicated he would need to apologise if he wanted to be given another chance at the club. Guess he hasn’t yet.

Other news and rumours:

- Villarreal’s top scorer from last season, Cedric Bakambu, is likely to miss the club’s Champions League Play-Off fixtures. The draw is today. (MARCA)

- Thomas Vermaelen is very close to joining Roma but the sticking point is the fee to be paid at the end of the initial loan deal. Roma say €8m, Barcelona want €12m. (SPORT)

- Fernando Llorente is set to have a medical at Swansea today. (ABC Sevilla)

- Real Betis are hoping to sign Benjamin Stambouli to strengthen their midfield. (Estadio Deportivo)

- Lassana Diarra has put talks with Valencia on hold as he believes Tottenham and Manchester United could be interested in him. (Plaza Deportiva)

- Gabriel Mercado has joined Sevilla from River Plate for €2.2m. (Estadio Deportivo)