Arsenal target Shkodran Mustafi has been told he can leave Valencia during this transfer window, provided the Spanish club receives an "adequate offer" for the Germany international centre-back.The news comes from Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News, who detailed the state of play between both clubs and the defender:It's a potentially major breakthrough for central defender-needy Arsenal. The Gunners' pursuit of Mustafi has turned into one of the most protracted of this window.Hopes recently appeared to have been dashed when Valencia manager Pako Ayestaran stated the player won't be leaving Los Che, per Gerard Brand of Sky Sports. Ayestaran was speaking after Valencia's 4-2 defeat to Las Palmas in La Liga, a match Mustafi began on the bench but eventually appeared in as a second-half substitute.BBC Sport's David Ornstein had previously revealed how Arsenal were being put off by the price:The Daily Mirror's John Cross even reported how the 24-year-old will cost the Gunners as much as 50 million. Yet, Mark Crtichley of the Independent stated Mustafi's Valencia contract actually contains a release clause worth 50 million or roughly 43 million.Either way, those are massive fees to invest in a player who doesn't start for Germany at international level. So it's no surprise cheaper alternatives have been mooted, including Monaco's Marcel Tisserand.He's available for a mere 4.3 million, according to Spanish publication Marca(h/t Dan Gibbs of the Daily Express), which also noted the Gunners are frontrunners for the player after La Liga outfit Espanyol dropped out of the bidding.It was previously suggested Tisserand was reluctant to join Espanyol while he waited for a bid from Arsenal, per another report from Cross.However, the lack of actual bids for other possible centre-back choices suggests Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sees Mustafi as his main target and is willing to wait to get his man.Squawka's Nic English has previously endorsed Mustafi's fit in north London:Meanwhile, WhoScored.com provided this encouraging statistic:Whether Mustafi is worth the money or not, Arsenal's need for help at the back isn't going away. Not when Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista remain injured, while Laurent Koscielny isn't fully fit following his UEFA Euro 2016 campaign with France.Wenger's been playing a waiting game for Mustafi, but with the transfer window set to slam shut on August 31, he may have to be the first to blink.Gunners Will Beat Everton to Deportivo La Coruna StrikerAs much as Wenger needs to recruit a new centre-back, he also has to add to his options up front during this window. Reports from Spain have stated the Frenchman is very close to doing just that after beating Premier League rivals Everton to a deal for Deportivo's clever attacker Lucas Perez.The news comes from Spanish sourceEl Confidencial(h/t Metro's Sean Kearns): "Arsenal have made a late swoop and are ready to meet the strikers 17m release clause."More details reveal how Perez favours the Gunners over Everton, thanks to the former being able to offer UEFA Champions League football this season.Frankly, Perez would be a steal at the price, even if he isn't the marquee name many would likely want to see join Arsenal to challenge incumbent striker Olivier Giroud.Yet, Perez still boasts qualities the Gunners need along their forward line. Specifically, he's an intelligent and subtle mover in the final third, expertly timing his runs before often finishing with composure and class.He found the net 17 times in Spain's top flight last season (perWhoScored.com),and he can play anywhere up front. Perez fits the profile of a Wenger signing and would provide more competent support for Giroud than Theo Walcott can offer, as well as allowing Alexis Sanchez to return to the flanks where he's most effective.Wenger still has time to retool his squad in the areas where it needs most attention. As shrewd a judge of talent as the Frenchman is, he should be able to find top quality for reasonable fees, even in a market so far defined by major spending.
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