Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger likens Lucas Perez to Jamie Vardy

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested that impending arrival Lucas Perez has similar qualities to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy.

The North London outfit are believed to be closing in on the £52m capture of both Perez and Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal initially pursued Vardy, but the England international opted to commit his future to the Foxes, and the Gunners also failed in an attempt to sign Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette.

However, they are expected to be successful with Deportivo La Coruna attacker Perez, who is believed to be costing the Premier League club £17m.

"He is a late developer, he played in a different position," the London Evening Standard quotes Wenger as saying. "He moved centrally in a successful way. I think he has good link-up qualities, good finishing qualities. Let's see if we can finish the job."

After hearing comparisons between Perez and Vardy, Wenger said: "Yes, I like that one."

Arsenal's only other signing this summer so far is Granit Xhaka, who joined from Borussia Monchengladbach for a fee in the region of £30m.