Finally a new signing is ‘close’, admits Wenger

Arsene Wenger: 'Close' to a new signing

Arsene Wenger: 'Close' to a new signing

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club are “close” to bringing in a new signing.

Wenger has been heavily criticised for his lack of signings this summer with just Granit Xhaka, Takuma Asano and Rob Holding arriving so far, but speaking after the goalless draw with Leicester the Gunners boss revealed another new man was on his way.

“Yes we are close [to another signing],” Wenger told BT Sport. “But I would say spending in itself is not a quality. Spending and buying the right players is a quality.

“I am a bit fed up to always respond to the same things. We look and analyse absolutely everything and we have to make the right decisions.”

The player in question is believed to be German centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, who is set to arrive from Valencia in the coming days.

The La Liga side had set Mustafi’s asking price at £30million, but earlier this week Los Che admitted they were strapped for cash and Arsenal could land Mustafi for significantly less.

The Valencia chief Garcia Pitarch admitted that the La Liga outfit are currently failing to meet FFP regulations.

Mustafi

Pitarch said: “We’re above the FFP guidelines, that’s the reality, and as of today, the four players we’ve signed cannot be registered, meaning we need to reduce the cost in a significant manner to register the players and sign a centre-back, which is a priority in case one of the ones at our club leaves.”

The 24-year-old centre-back will be a welcomed addition to a backline that is without Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, while Laurent Koscielny is being eased back into the season following his exploits with France at Euro 2016.