Wenger refuses to deny Star defender will leave Arsenal this summer window

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has left the Emirate door open for Germany international defender Shkodran Mustafi to leave the club before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The Arsenal defender has been heavily linked with a switch away from the Emirate Stadium in recent days, with Serie A giants Inter Milan and Juventus reportedly interested in bringing the German to Italy.

The Arsenal manager, however, said it was impossible to confirm what might happen over the next couple of weeks.

Mustafi only joined Arsenal last summer when he arrived from La Liga club Valencia in a £35million transfer deal – making e defender the club’s third most expensive player.

But despite his huge price-tag, the FIFA World Cup winner failed to seal a place in the Arsenal side last season, playing a total of 26 Premier League matches.

Meanwhile, Rob Holding’s performances has exceeded expectations following his arrival from Bolton Wanderers.

If the defender were to leave the North London club, he would follow Gabriel out the Emirate Stadium with the Brazil international having linked up with Valencia for about £10m last week.

This would leave the North London club with Laurent Koscielny, German Per Mertesacker, Holding, Nacho Monreal, Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac as alternatives in central defensive positions. Arsene Wenger also has Hector Bellerin, Kieran Gibbs, and Mathieu Debuchy to call upon in the defensive full back position.