A new centre-back like Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi would be ideal for Arsenal, according to Gunners favourite Ray Parlour.
Arsenal are currently lacking in the back-line with German Per Mertesacker ruled out for at least four months while Gabriel Paulista is also injured and set to miss six to eight weeks of action.
It means that Arsene Wenger could be forced into the transfer market to bring in defensive reinforcements and Parlour, who spent 12 years on the books at Arsenal, has implored the club to get a defender in.
The 43-year-old is an advocate of the Gunners signing Mustafi, who has been linked with the North London side, and would also like to see his old club add another striker.
“I think they do need a few more bodies in there,” Parlour told the Metro. “In midfield they’re very strong and they’ve got a lot of options. With the injuries they’ve got to Gabriel and Mertesacker, they look really light at the back.
“Holding, who they signed this summer, has had a good pre-season and looks like a class player and he will really improve but he’s a young lad and you can’t rely too much on him at the moment.
“So that is the priority at the moment – getting a centre-half through the door and if they can get a striker in as well that will really make them strong
“Mustafi is a decent player and he’ll strengthen it no doubt if he came.”
Mustafi, 24, played in 30 La Liga games last season for Valencia, scoring twice despite the club’s troubles in the Spanish top flight.
Formerly of Everton, the centre-back has impressed in Spain as well as with Germany and now appears to be set to make the return to the English game with Arsenal.
Although the north London club is working on a deal, it remains unlikely it will be done before Sunday’s league opener with Liverpool.
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