Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez fly in for Arsenal medicals

Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez are closing on moves to Arsenal after flying in for pre-deadline medicals on Friday.

Sky in Germany are reporting Mustafi, a central defender, will sign from Valencia on a five-year deal after weeks of negotiations between the two clubs, with a fee which could rise to £35m understood to have been agreed this week.

Mustafi, 24, was on Everton's books as a youngster and played for Sampdoria before joining Valencia in August 2014.

Deportivo La Coruna striker Perez is also poised to move to the Emirates, with manager Arsene Wenger saying he was "99 per cent confident" he will have strengthened his squad before the transfer window closes next Wednesday.

"Will we sign anyone before the window closes? I'm 99 per cent confident. I hope we will have done all our business before the last days of the window," Wenger said.

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"It was a strange transfer market, I expected it to be easier than ever, it has been more difficult than ever.

"It looks like it will be frenetic in the last three days, everyone has sat on money but we know they will all splash out now."

Mustafi's arrival will be a huge boost to Wenger. Despite signing 20-year-old Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal are perilously thin at centre-half with club captain Per Mertesacker sidelined until the New Year and Brazilian Gabriel Paulista ruled out for four weeks. 

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