According to The Sun, new coach Unai Emery fears Shkodran Mustafi is not up to the job, while he is also said to fear the likes of Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos are not yet ready for regular first team football. Chambers, who recently signed a new long-term deal, is reportedly on the verge of joining newly promoted Fulham on a season-long loan with Croatia World Cup star Domagoj Vida having been identified as a potential replacement.

The physically imposing Vida joined Besiktas from Dynamo Kiev for £8m January and the Turkish club have rejected a £13.5m bid from Liverpool already this summer. Having invested heavily this summer and last January, when Mesut Ozil signed a new deal following the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Arsenal must sell before they can submit a tempting offer for Vida. Danny Welbeck is expected to leave before the deadline, while Aaron Ramsey could yet raise up to £30m if he fails to agree an extension to his contract which is due to expire next summer.

Bournemouth and Southampton want Danny Welbeck, Everton move off the England international. January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is their No.1 frontman with Alexandre Lacazette also an option leaving Welbeck as 3rd choice. That leaves Welbeck out in the cold and he could be off before Thursday’s 5pm transfer deadline. Everton like the ex-Manchester United man but with Brazilian ace Bernard set to sign on a free transfer they could end their interest. That would leave Southampton and Bournemouth in the clear to battle over Welbeck who has just a year left on his contract at Arsenal.