WENGER GETS HIS MEN IN £52M DOUBLE DEAL
GUNNERS LAND DEFENDER MUSTAFI AND STRIKER PEREZ AS WILSHERE SEEKS LOAN AWAY
Arsenal have snapped up defender Shkodran Mustafi and striker Lucas Perez to bolster their squad in a £52million double deal.
Perez, 27, has joined from Deportivo La Coruna for around £17million, with the Gunners paying £35m to land Valencia’s German centreback, Mustafi.
Perez strengthens Arsene Wenger’s options up front, a boost for fans who have criticised the lack of striking signings in recent years.
Mustafi’s arrival is a huge boost following injuries to fellow centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, and it is believed that his transfer took Premier League clubs’ spending during the summer transfer window beyond £1billion.
“(I) can’t wait to play for this great club,” said Mustafi.
Perez added: “I was really happy and flattered when I heard about Arsenal’s interest. I was very hopeful to get the chance to come here.
“I played as a striker for most of my career, but I can adapt to any of the four positions across the front line.
“I prefer playing as a striker but I have no problem playing anywhere up front.
“I’m a pacy player. I like to link up and combine with my team-mates, playing onetwos to work a shot.
“I don’t want to put myself in a box, I hope that the Arsenal fans can see for themselves and enjoy watching me. I want to show what I’m about, get stuck into playing and perform well.”
Wenger said of Perez, who had a productive campaign at Deportivo last season: “He’s not only a goalscorer, he’s a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs
“He’s a late developer in this position because he has always played on the flanks. He’s got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year in a team that didn’t create too many chances.”
Werder Bremen say they are close to concluding the signing of another German, Serge Gnabry, from the Gunners, while Arsenal are preparing to allow Jack Wilshere to leave on loan.
The career of Wilshere, 24, has stalled in recent seasons owing to a series of injuries and Arsenal’s considerable strength in depth in central midfield.
He was left out of new England manager Sam Allardyce’s first squad selection. After two substitute appearances so far this season, it is believed he and the club mutually agreed a temporary move would be beneficial. Wilshere could be loaned to another Premier League club, although there is reported interest from Italy. Wilshere’s return to fitness for the new campaign has coincided with Santi Cazorla – out injured for much of last term – becoming available again to Wenger. Wenger recruited Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka over the summer to bolster his options in the middle of the park. With Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also competing for places, Wilshere has found himself down the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Bremen’s director of sport Frank Baumann said of Gnabry: “We’ve got an agreement with the player and we’re confident it will go through.”