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Arsène Wenger confirms Mustafi and Lucas signings

Arsenal are close to signing both striker Lucas Perez and centre-back Shkodran Mustafi in deals that British media reported will total more than £50 million.

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Arsenal are priced at 9/4 to recruit the Algeria worldwide before Wednesday’s deadline, ahead of Premier League rivals Everton (7/2) and Chelsea (7/1).

Arsenal are on the verge of securing Shkrodan Mustafi and Lucas Perez from Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna respectively.

Everton had identified the 27-year-old, who scored 17 goals in La Liga last season, to provide support for Romelu Lukaku.

“They’ve both had medicals but we need to complete the paperwork”, the Frenchman said.

Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Pérez are Arsenal players.

“We have a good little break now and we can help them to join the squad”.

Wenger also disclosed that he tried to find club executives at Euro 2016 games to discuss transfers, when he was working as a pundit for French TV at the tournament.

Arsenal are set to announce a £35million deal for the Valencia centre-back, who would become the third most expensive centre back in football history, early next week after lengthy negotiations with the Spanish side.

Everton are still hopeful of a deal but reports in Spain suggest Arsenal are strong favourites to sign the player.

“I don’t think so”.

With the Premier League’s 5.14-billion-pound domestic television rights deal kicking in this campaign, Wenger said he expected an easier close season. “I believe we bought [Granit] Xhaka, if we get another player in who is around his age, it is an interesting age for the future as well for the club”. “I focus first on making the right decisions for the club”. But you will see how many transfers will happen in the next three or four days.

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However, I think the reality is that Everton’s current position in the footballing food chain means they will always struggle to land top targets from overseas.

Lucas Perez Martinez