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EPL: Double delight for Arsenal as they sign Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi
Arsenal strengthened its squad by signing striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna and Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia on the next-to-last day of Europe’s transfer window.
Arsenal strengthened its squad by signing striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna and Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia on the next-to-last day of Europe’s transfer window on Tuesday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been trying to buy a striker since the end of last season, only to see bids for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette get rejected. With time running out to add to his squad, Wenger settled on the 27-year-old Lucas — a scorer of 17 goals last season.
“He’s not only a goal scorer, he’s a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs,” Wenger said. “He’s got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year.”
British media reported Lucas will cost Arsenal about 17 million pounds ($22.3 million).
Within hours, Arsenal had also re-shuffled its defensive options by signing center half Mustafi for a reported fee of 35 million pounds ($45.7 million), and sending Calum Chambers on loan to promoted Premier League club Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old Mustafi, who will join up with fellow Germany international Mesut Ozil at Arsenal, came through the Everton academy before going on to join Sampdoria and then spending the last two seasons at Valencia.
Mustafi became Wenger’s third high-profile signing for the new season, having brought in Switzerland’s defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach in May.
