“Especially when you deal with leagues that start late”. Will we sign anyone before the window closes?
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“My job is to resist stress and pressure”, Wenger said, “while keeping my “blue head”, a phrase borrowed from the All Blacks, meaning clearly focusing on objectives despite external noise.
Arsenal’s first offer was rejected by Deportivo on Thursday after they tried to pay the modest fee in two instalments, but a subsequent structured bid was accepted.
Perez, 27, is a Spanish striker who scored 17 goals for Deportivo last season – the only time he has scored more than 10 goals in a single season.
While Wenger did sign Bolton defender Rob Holding and young Japanese striker Takuma Asano, a failed move for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy contributed to a hard summer for the Frenchman – as Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, John Stones and N’Golo Kante signed for rival clubs.
The Spaniards have now agreed a £5m deal for Brazilian defender Sidnei – ironically, a Deportivo team-mate of Perez – and that may open the door for Mustafi to leave after all.
There is confidence at the Gunners that the Germany global wants to join them.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits this has been a hard transfer window for the Gunners, although their spending could soon reach 100 million pounds.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has sung the praises of imminent transfers Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi.
But Wenger admitted he has found this summer his hardest ever transfer window as the deals look set to go to the wire.
He said: “I’m very angry because we can’t see the danger of teams when we go ahead”.
“Honestly, I expected it to be easier than ever but it looks like it will be harder than ever”. It will be frenetic in the next three days.
“I admire Arsene for sticking to his financial principles, although I wish tactically he could get the balance right between defence and attack”, he added.
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According to a report in the Mirror (live transfer thread, 26 August 2016 at 16:48), Middlesbrough, Derby County, Stoke City, West Ham United and Hull City are keen on Arsenal’s Calum Chambers.
