Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - Arsenal FC Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Arsenal are on the verge of agreeing a £14million deal to land Bayern ­Munich’s Brazilian international Luiz Gustavo.

The Gunners have moved ahead of Chelsea and Wolfsburg in the race to sign the 26-year-old.

And Arsene Wenger insists that he still hasn’t given up hope on prising Luis Suarez away from ­Liverpool.

Gustavo, who has already been capped 10 times by Brazil and played in their Confederations Cup triumph earlier this summer, is expected to seal a deal before next week’s ­Premier League opener against Aston Villa at the Emirates.

Wenger said: “There is nothing concrete – at the moment.

“We want to play 55 games this ­season and I think we are a little bit thin squad-wise.

“I also haven’t given up hope on Suarez. If I read what people are saying about him, then maybe I would give up. But we will do it the right way.

“I am an optimist. That’s why I do this job. We have kept the squad together for the first time in many years so I am happy.”