Arsenal IGNORED advice from own head of transfers to sign Mustafi and Perez in 2016 despite ‘mid-table player’ warning
ARSENAL reportedly ignored advice from their own head of transfers to sign Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez in 2016 despite a ‘mid-table player’ warning.
Mustafi arrived at the Emirates from Valencia for £36million that summer with Perez landing in north London for a £12m fee from Deportivo La Coruna – against the recommendations of the Gunners head of recruitment Francis Cagigao.
During his 15 years at the Emirates, Cagigao has been credited with discovering the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Hector Bellerin and more recently, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba.
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But according to The Athletic there were two instances in the summer 2016 transfer window where the Gunners went against Cagigao’s keen eye.
The club were eyeing a striker and centre-back ahead of the new season, which led to the signings of Mustafi and Perez from the Spanish outfits.
It is claimed that Mustafi was not even on Cagigao’s shortlist of targets and when asked by Perez’s agent if he would consider signing the Spaniard amid interest from Everton, he responded: “Not a chance, he’s a mid-table player.”
The Gunners reportedly used analytics when deciding to sign the pair instead of sending their scouts to watch them live in action.
Mustafi, 27, was hugely criticised by supporters for his performances last season following a string of costly mistakes and was told to leave the club by Unai Emery at the time.
The Arsenal defender has already added to his catalogue of howlers this year with a back pass to gift Chelsea their opener and turn the London derby on its head in January.
And the dodgy defender scored a shocking own goal to give Liverpool an early lead in October.
He has since battled his way back into Mikel Arteta’s squad but his future remains in doubt with William Saliba set to return to north London after making a big impact on loan at Saint-Etienne.
If the Gunners allow the much-maligned German to see out the rest of his £80,000-a-week contract till next year, they will have shelled out almost £60million in transfer fees and wages on the defender alone.
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Gunners flop Perez, managed just one goal Premier League goal and no assists in 11 Arsenal appearances in his spell at the Emirates between 2016 and 2018.
He was shipped out on loan for the second season to his former club Deportivo.
However, the forward has been in fine form for La Liga outfit Alaves this season after joining from West Ham in the summer, scoring 11 goals in 26 league games this season.