Arsenal close in on double deal for Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi

Arsenal are set to meet a £17m buyout clause to secure Lucas, 27, apparently pipping Everton to the post.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has been criticised recently for his reluctance to sign the club cheque book, is also thought to be stumping up £35m for 24-year-old Germany international Mustafi.

Wenger has argued that he is not averse to spending on new signings, so long as they are right for the club and provide good value for money.

However, with the Gunners manager under fire over last season’s missed opportunity in the league, and as rival league bosses Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho spend big on stars such as Paul Pogba and John Stones, Wenger will be under considerable pressure to add to his transfer window haul.

So far, Arsenal have secured the signatures of Granit Xhaka, defender Rob Holding, forward Takuma Asano and midfielder Kelechi Nwakal since the end of the last season.