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Arsene Wenger intensifies search for defender with Shkodran Mustafi, Jose Fonte

Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with their club’s relative lack of transfer market activity.

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Arsenal are still in the hunt to sign Germany and Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to reports in France.

With centre-backs Gabriel and Per Mertesacker injured, veteran French manager Wenger decided against recalling defender Laurent Koscielny, as well as Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, for Sunday’s Premier League opener against Liverpool after they were all involved at Euro 2016.

“I would like to reassure you that we are not afraid to spend the money we have and we are working very hard”, he continued.

“I believe it’s better if I don’t talk about individual players, but we are ready to spend the money we have”, Wenger told a press conference.

One player Wenger failed to lure to the Emirates Stadium was Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, who rejected the overtures to sign a fresh deal with the champions. And I think this club has been built on that.

“You can play huge amounts of money for average players – there are plenty of those – but to find the ones who will strengthen your squad, that is more hard”.

“We had great success in the last 20 years in improving our structures and the main thing is based on a transfer policy”. The clubs always pay for the fact that the players played in these tournaments.

Wenger said English clubs, who are enjoying the riches of a new TV deal for the Premier League, could run into long-term problems by continually overspending on players.

“Why? Because they buy players at a very high price”.

“You start seeing the first signs now of English clubs having to pay massive wages even when the players go out, they have to pay half of their wages”.

Fabregas and Van Persie have played for Arsenal’s rivals in Chelsea and Manchester United since their departure from the London club with some Arsenal fans unlikely to welcome them back with open arms.

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“So on the longer period, that means the financial advantage that the English clubs have will drop”.

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