Arsenal FC still linked with Sahin and M’Vila as AFC to make two more signings

Arsene Wenger (credit: DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/GettyImages)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he is hoping to sign a midfielder and a defender before next week’s transfer deadline.

Wenger last week saw Van Persie join Manchester United in a £24million deal, while midfielder Alex Song on Monday sealed a £15m switch to Barcelona.

The departures have led to summer signing Santi Cazorla urging his new manager to sign a midfielder and a striker in the next ten days, and although Wenger has insisted he has no plans to bring in a replacement for Van Persie, he has indicated he will bring in two more new faces before the summer transfer window closes.

Wenger is expected to complete a season-long loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin, while Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila is also on his radar.

But with defenders Laurent Koscielny and Bacary Sagna on the injury list, the Frenchman has admitted he will need to further strengthen his back four.

“We are looking to bring one more midfielder in of course, and maybe one defender as well because we still feel we are short in some positions,” he told the club’s official website.

Cazorla had earlier said: “It’s clear that he [Van Persie] is a great player, a spectacular player, and obviously we would all have preferred it if he had stayed.

“Song has gone as well and there are still ten days left in the market.

“Obviously it’s important to replace players like that because they were so important for the team.”