Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger likens Lucas Perez to Jamie Vardy

Lucas Perez of Real Club Deportivo in action during the Teresa Herrera Trophy match between Real Sporting de Gijon and Real Club Deportivo at estadio Municipal de Riazar on August 10, 2014
© Getty Images
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger likens incoming striker Lucas Perez to Leicester City forward 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.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gives the thumbs up during his side's 2-1 victory over Manchester City on December 21, 2015
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City4400114712
2Chelsea431094510
3Everton431072510
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd43017349
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs42207258
6Liverpool42119727
7Arsenal42118627
8Hull City42115327
9Middlesbrough41214405
10Watford411278-14
11Crystal Palace411234-14
12West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom411223-14
13Swansea CitySwansea411246-24
14Bournemouth411235-24
15Burnley411235-24
16Leicester CityLeicester411247-34
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham410359-43
18Southampton402236-32
19Sunderland401338-51
20Stoke CityStoke4013210-81