Arsenal are claimed to have agreed a deal to sign Deportivo La Coruna’s Lucas Perez yesterday, and are now claimed to have agreed a fee with Valencia for Shkodran Mustafi also.
The Spanish striker will already be booked in to fly to London to complete a medical this week, having been withdrawn from his current club’s squad which will take on Real Betis on Friday.
A deal is now also being completed for Mustafi, with only the signing of a contract and a medical needed to be dealt with, and the German international will usurp Alexis Sanchez as the club’s second most expensive signing, behind fellow World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.
The pair could even be made available for the upcoming tie with Watford this weekend, with Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker already ruled out of the defence with injury, although the striker will more than likely start his Arsenal career on the bench.
At centre-back we have been relying on 20 year-old Rob Holding for the opening two matches of the campaign, and have already shipped in four goals, and an experienced head is definitely needed if we are going to get our season back on track.
The news that we are now willing to pay the £35 Million asking price is a little frustrating, given the fact that talks have been ongoing for some time, and we should have come to an agreement over the price some time ago, but the season is still young, and he will hopefully settle quickly into our squad.
Gabriel struggled to earn a regular starting role last term, and I think Mustafi will be able to keep the Brazilian on the sidelines once he returns from injury, although there will hopefully be more of an improvement in Paulista this season also.
Is our transfer window now finished with Mustafi and Perez? Are we happy with the duo?