Arsenal close in on Andre Santos

Arsenal are close to completing the signing of Brazil left-back Andre Santos and are in talks for Werder Bremen centre-back Per Mertesacker.

Santos, 28, would help fill the void left by the sale of Gael Clichy to Manchester City and the likely departure of Armand Traore to QPR.

Traore was part of the Arsenal defence humiliated 8-2 by Manchester United on Sunday – one of the worst results in the club’s history.

Germany international Mertesacker, 26, could also join the club as a defensive reinforcement.

And, with time running out before Wednesday evening’s transfer deadline, it appears beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger has responded to calls to spend his way out of trouble.

South Korea captain Park Chu-Young is expected to complete his move from Monaco later on Tuesday, while the Gunners have been linked with a host of other names, including Chelsea trio Florent Malouda, Alex and Yossi Benayoun.

They also last week saw a bid rejected for Bolton’s Gary Cahill as they look to improve a defence that has, at times, been left woefully exposed in the past year.