Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Gunners have done deals for defender Shkodran Mustafi and striker Lucas Perez, with the pair set to link up with their new team-mates.
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In fairness to Wenger, the deal for Mustafi has been rumbling on all summer long with Valencia driving a hard bargain and Arsenal finally agreeing to pay $46.2 million for the 24-year-old German global.
Both players were undergoing medicals in London on Friday, a source told ESPN FC, but some paperwork will also have to be sorted out before the deal is announced.
“We are working on the deals”, Wenger said.
While the Manchester clubs have spent more than $400 million in the window, it’s been another underwhelming few months for Arsenal, whose only major signing was Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka. I’m 99 per cent confident.
“We have bought two players Mustafi and Perez”.
Perez, 27, was reportedly close to joining Everton before Arsenal stepped in, but Wenger insists he was not reacting to the fans’ lust for spending money.
He added: “I’m happy when our supporters are happy but my focus is on strengthening the squad in the right way”.
Wenger says he was anticipating an “easier” transfer market than ever this summer but admits he had to reassess his targets after missing out on his priorities earlier in the window. But you will see how many transfers will happen in the next three or four days.
Former Everton centre-back Mustafi, 24, is set to sign a five-year contract from Valencia, for a fee in excess of £35m. Asked if Chambers’s Arsenal future could be affected by Mustafi’s arrival, Wenger replied: “Future? No”.
But boss Arsene Wenger has had a change of heart with time running out to strengthen his squad ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
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Wenger also claimed Arsenal are still not up to speed and could improve – despite romping past Watford today. Let us know in the comments section below.
