Arsenal have reportedly struck a deal to sign Deportivo La Coruna forward Lucas Perez and are closing in on the signing of Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, too.
That’s according to David Ornstein of BBC Sport, who suggested the Gunners have matched Perez’s release clause of €20 million (£17.1 million) and beaten Everton to the player’s signature. It’s noted that Mustafi is also close to completing his transfer, with a fee upwards of £35 million said to have been agreed.
The two transfers would potentially solve two longstanding problem positions for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, with numbers short in the centre of the defence and at the point of the attack.
"We are working on the deals," said Wenger when asked about the potential acquisitions on Friday, per Joe Mewis of the Daily Mirror. "Will we sign anyone before the window closes? I’m 99 per cent confident."
Perez may not be a household name to many supporters of Premier League clubs, although the Deportivo man excelled in the 2015-16 season. Here’s a look at what he will bring to the Emirates Stadium:
According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, Arsenal have had a change of heart on Perez, having decided not to pursue a deal earlier in the window. “The Gunners have compiled several scouting reports on the Deportivo La Coruna striker and in July they knocked back the chance to sign him,” it’s noted.
The previous campaign was a major breakthrough one for the 27-year-old. Last summer he signed for Deportivo on a permanent deal having impressed on loan, and although he’s operated from a wide position for much of his career, Perez blossomed through the middle for the Galician outfit.
He’s hard-working, possesses a brilliant left foot and takes up some intelligent positions on the field.
What will excite Arsenal supporters more than anything is Perez’s goalscoring record, though. As we can see courtesy of Squawka Football, he’s a finisher and creator of chances:
While Arsenal have been on the hunt for a new forward for a long time, the capture of Mustafi will arguably be more vital to the Gunners in the short term. That’s because of the injuries suffered by Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista ahead of the season, which left Wenger to field 20-year-old Rob Holding for the first two games of the Premier League campaign.
Mustafi, who has developed brilliantly in Valencia, would be an immediate upgrade in this area of the field. According to Ed Aarons and Dominic Fifield of the Guardian, the German will have a medical before the weekend.
The Germany international has been making smart progress and at 24 years old, he is a player with the potential to become one of the top centre-backs in European football. Mustafi is a dynamic defender, one who loves tackles, is watchful in tracking the movements of attackers and relishes physical battles.
While the potential capture of the defender will be a relief to a lot of Arsenal fans, Squawka’s Greg Johnson feels the signing was a long time coming:
Perez is a forward who can thrive in English football with his bustling style and strong running. It’s questionable whether he is an immediate upgrade on Olivier Giroud in terms of goalscoring potential in the Premier League and is certainly not the superstar signing some who frequent the Emirates Stadium craved. He will provide a different threat up top, though.
Mustafi, by contrast, has the potential to enhance Arsenal’s XI. The prospect of him partnering Laurent Koscielny is an exciting one, as both players are calm on the ball, robust in their defensive duties and aggressive in their approach.
The Gunners may have to spend big to get him on board, but Mustafi is someone who’ll have a positive influence on the club’s title push.