LONDON — Arsenal bolstered its striker options by signing Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna on the next-to-last day of Europe’s transfer window, while England goalkeeper Joe Hart’s departure from Manchester City grew closer on Tuesday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been trying to buy a striker since the end of last season, only to see bids for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette get rejected. With time running out to add to his squad, Wenger settled on the 27-year-old Lucas — a scorer of 17 goals last season.
"He’s not only a goal scorer, he’s a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs," Wenger said. "He’s got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year."
British media reported Lucas will cost Arsenal about 17 million pounds ($22.3 million).
Arsenal was also among the top English teams attempting to trim their squads in the final hours of the transfer window.
England defender Calum Chambers was in Middlesbrough to complete a loan move from Arsenal to the promoted Premier League club, and Chelsea loaned France striker Loic Remy to Crystal Palace for the rest of the season.
Hart was on the verge of leaving Man City on loan, too, having landed in Italy to tie up a move to Torino for the remainder of the season. Hart has slipped to third-choice goalkeeper at City, behind new signing Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero.
Hart was given permission to leave the England camp to seal the move.
Hull signed three players: England midfielder Ryan Mason from Tottenham for an undisclosed club-record fee, Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall from second-tier team Cardiff, and striker Will Keane from Manchester United.
Sunderland sent Netherlands midfielder Jeremain Lens on loan to Turkish club Fenerbahce for the rest of the season, a year after signing him for 8 million pounds ($10.5 million) from Dynamo Kyiv. West Bromwich Albion sold Costa Rica right back Cristian Gamboa to Celtic.
