So how will the new boys fit in at the Emirates?

SHKODRAN MUSTAFI is not a natural defensive leader but he’s technically very good. However he needs his central defensive partner to direct the traffic. He struggles when it is down to him to do the pointing. But his distribution is superb, his positioning is good and he can score from set-pieces. Rightfooted, he is also comfortable at right back, or at right centre back covering a very attacking full-back such as Hector Bellerin. As for Perez, he led the line last season for Deportivo in a 4-2-3-1 but he can play wide left too.

Will they settle off the pitch?

Mustafi has a special bond with Germany team-mate Mesut Ozil. When Ozil posted a picture of himself on social media of his pilgrimage to Mecca before Euro 2016, he was criticised in Germany by right-wing party AFD. But Mustafi, also a Muslim, stood up for his friend by publishing a picture of himself in a ‘I’m Muslim, don’t panic’ t-shirt. Perez, meanwhile, joins three fellow Spaniards in Nacho Monreal, Santi Cazorla and Bellerin.

What do fans think of them at Valencia and Deportivo?

Playing alongside Nicolas Otamendi, Mustafi was excellent two seasons ago — precisely because the Argentinian was the leader and Mustafi could be his impeccable partner. When Valencia sold Otamendi to City he struggled but he was not helped by the fact that his new central defensive partner Aymen Abdennour had a ropey first season. The fans will miss him, as will the Deportivo faithful now that local boy Perez is departing.

What’s Perez’s goal record like?

As well as his 17 goals last season, he scored one of the goals that kept Deportivo up in the 2014-15 campaign, a shot from just inside the area at the Nou Camp against Barcelona on the last day to secure a 2-2 draw. He’s a local lad who supported Deportivo growing up but was overlooked by them as a youngster and so had to prove himself elsewhere playing in the Ukraine and Greece before coming home to Riazor in 2014.