WATCH: Paul Merson slating Shkodran Mustafi only to be impressed by him is classic Soccer Saturday

You missed them during the summer, didn't you?

Soccer Saturday is a few weeks into the new season and it almost feels as if the lads were never away. Jeff Stelling and his punditry strike force of former footballers have been casting their eyes over the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester City this afternoon and engaging of plenty of debate, slanging and 'What a GOAL!' hyperbole. Just before the 3pm kick-offs, Stelling and Merson were discussing Arsenal's impending capture of Valencia and Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi, who is expected to cost some £35m before wages. The first offer for him was supposed to be £15m. Merson was far from convinced:

"If he wasn't on their radar because, if not, he's a panic buy... It would be interesting to see what Gary Neville makes of this lad because he worked with him at Valencia and they leaked goals left right and centre. They were not keeping bundles of clean sheets and he was part of that [defence]."

Stelling interjected to tell Merson that Sky Sports' Spanish soccer correspondent Rob Palmer called him 'an exceptional player' in La Liga. That seemed good enough for Merson. "Oh okay, well... I hope so." Merson is on board the Mustafi train.

WATCH: Is Mustafi a "panic buy" for Arsenal? Paul Merson has his say on Soccer Saturday. https://t.co/pEMa0P91nA

— Soccer Saturday ⚽️ (@SoccerSaturday) August 27, 2016

Good value for money, these lads. Massive Dublin v Kerry preview in the latest GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes