Arsenal 'have not closed any deals' for Shkodran Mustafi or Alexandre Lacazette, confirms Arsene Wenger

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Standard Sport1 August 2016

Arsene Wenger remains unmoved by transfer speculation linking both Alexandre Lacazette and Shkodran Mustafi to Arsenal, confirming that the Gunners have closed no new deals ahead of the new season.

Wenger said last week he is targeting a striker and a defender to bolster his squad, with the 24-year-old Valencia and Germany centre-back Mustafi a reported target considering Per Mertesacker expected to be out for the rest of the year with a knee injury.

The Gunners have missed out on Leicester's Jamie Vardy as well as Gonzalo Higuain - who moved to Juventus for €90million - while Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says Alvaro Morata will be staying in the Spanish capital this season.

Lyon announced last week that they had rejected a £29.4m Arsenal offer for Lacazette, though Wenger refused to discuss whether he is after either the striker or Mustafi this summer following the Gunners' 3-1 victory over Chivas.

Asked whether he expects to sign Mustafi, Wenger replied: "We have not closed any deal with anybody at the moment.

"That’s the answer. You speak about Mustafi. Is it Mustafi or anybody else - we haven’t concluded anything at the moment."

Regarding Lacazette, Wenger added: "I can understand that you are interested in transfers but I’m not ready to come out on any name."

Wenger is considering playing new signing Rob Holding against Liverpool in Arsenal's Premier League season opener in a fortnight after the 20-year-old impressed with a goal against Chivas.

Arsenal away and third kit launch in LA

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“At the moment we have Per Mertesacker out and we have Laurent Koscielny still on holiday, plus Gabriel," Wenger said.

“One of them will play at the start of the season or at least be in the squad. At the moment I have a look at everybody and after I will make my final decision.

“But as you just said, it’s true that Holding adapted very quickly. All the three have top quality and all the three miss a little bit of experience. I’ll have to make a decision in two weeks.”

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