The Bundesliga leaders have denied they will sign anyone this month, but Goal understands they have been tracking the Germany international who is impressing in Spain
Weeks after Manchester City splurged on Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi in August, there were tongue in cheek comments emanating from Mestalla that the Premier League club had signed the wrong centre-back. Perhaps, they quipped, they should have signed Shkodran Mustafi instead.
Mustafi struck up an impressive partnership with Otamendi last year and the German defender picked up where he left off at the start of the new campaign. He certainly didn’t seem too down about the departure of his Argentine friend when the first ball of the new season was kicked.
Naturally then, given his form and his nationality, the 23-year-old has emerged as a candidate to fill in for the injured Jerome Boating at Bayern Munich. Boateng, injured in Friday’s win over Hamburg, is set for a three-month spell on the sidelines and Philipp Lahm admitted to Goal on Monday that his absence comes as a huge blow to the Bundesliga leaders.
Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says there will be no signings in January, though, because “there are no good players on the market.” However, Goal understands the Bavarian club have been following Mustafi for a while and even if they’re not tempted by a move this month, they may be in the summer.
They may face competition, too. The defender’s agent has already confirmed interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona. “I’ve had contact with both clubs, but there have not been any more [advanced] talks,” Ali Bulut told Bild last summer. “Shkodran has a contract with Valencia, who are a great club.”
Since Bulut made those comments, circumstances have changed. Not only has Otamendi left Valencia, but so has Nuno Espirito Santo, replaced as manager by Gary Neville. While this has been going on, the Spanish club have been knocked out of the Champions League and are currently on a 10-game winless run in La Liga.
Despite that, Mustafi’s managed to sustain his form. Throughout the course of the season he’s been one of his side’s best players, at times forced to babysit for Aymen Abdennour or whoever has been fielded in the middle of the back four alongside him.
Not especially quick, he stands out for his reading of the game. On many occasions this season he’s been forced to cover for team-mates, bailing them out of jail, while he’s a specialist in the air at both ends. Despite standing at 6’0” - which isn’t notably tall for a centre-back - he’s a demon in the air. Six league goals in Spanish football don’t quite do justice to how much of a threat he can be in the attacking third.
On and off the pitch, Mustafi's also shown real leadership skills, too. Linguistically he's been able to navigate the back four, with Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan particularly benefiting from his presence. Neville, too, has been helped by having an English speaker in the middle of his defence.
Surprisingly - for David Moyes at least, who let him leave for free - he’s managed to realise his potential despite being discarded by Everton after three years and one first team appearance at Goodison Park. His next stop was Sampdoria, which is where his performances tempted Valencia into paying €8 million for him in 2014. His work in Italy had already earned him international recognition and he was a memeber of Germany's successful World Cup squad 18 months ago.
Now if Bayern do want him - or Madrid, Barca or a Premier League club - they’re looking at a 500 percent mark up at least. His release clause is €50m and Valencia will no doubt point to that. Maybe in time, those tongue in cheek comments about Manchester City signing the wrong centre-back will end up looking quite astute.
- Goal