It remains to be seen if there is another target for Arsenal, whose search for a central defender – the priority in the last week of the window – has become increasingly desperate.

Arsenal are understood now to have no chance of signing forward Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon this summer. Last month, a bid of €35 million (£29.3 million) was rejected by Lyon – who also refused to sell to West Ham United – even though Arsenal had been informed that the minimum price to opens negotiations at was €40 million (£34 million).

The French international is now close to signing an improved, extended deal with Lyon, where he has spent all his career, with negotiations centring on whether a release clause can be inserted to make it easier for him to be sold next summer.

It is believed that clubs will be able to pay €45 million (£38.2 million) for Lacazette if they make an offer next March but that fee will rise to €60 million (£51 million), which is Lyon’s current asking price for the 25-year-old, if they leave it until the end of the season.