Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League side Arsenal FC is reportedly close to finishing the £17 million transfer deal of forward Lucas Perez from La Liga club Deportivo La Coruna.
The 27-year-old Spanish striker is said to have landed at the Heathrow Airport on Monday to complete his medical with the Gunners ahead of his official unveiling by the Holloway, London outfit, according to The Sun.
The report also said that Perez, who scored 17 goals in 36 appearances in the Spanish top flight last season, will be "available for selection after the international break". Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger badly needs Perez's goalscoring talents this term as his squad is currently missing the services of resident strikers Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck due to injuries.
The 66-year-old French boss had recently confirmed Perez's signing as well as that of defender Shkodran Mustafi from another Spanish team, Valencia CF, saying that "We have bought two players - Mustafi and Perez. They will integrate into the team now and we will help them join the squad".
"We had to work very hard to get the signings done. We have not got any plans for anyone else now," Wenger added.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside noted that Perez's £17 million signing is part of the Gunners £52 million swoop late in the summer transfer window as the club snagged Mustafi from Los Che for £35 million.
Like Perez, Mustafi's signing is also much-needed for Arsenal, whose backfield is plagued by injuries starting from team captain Per Mertesacker and other center backs Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscielny.
At the moment, Wenger is left with youngsters Rob Holding and Calum Chambers as his options at the central defense positions, which means Mustafi's arrival is very much welcome at the Emirates Stadium.
Perez had played the last two seasons with Deportivo, appearing in a total of 59 games in all competitions and scoring 24 times during the said time period. He was initially acquired by Branquiazuis in a loan deal from Greek club PAOK FC in July of 2014 before making it permanent transfer last summer as he signed a four-year deal with the La Liga squad.
Perez spent two seasons with PAOK, scoring 12 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Superleague Greece side.
