Having vowed that he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of last summer, it appears Arsene Wenger is in transfer signing overload with news filtering through from several reputable sources that Arsenal have agreed a club record deal with Rennes to sign French international Yann M’Vila.

The 21-year-old enforcer is understood to be moving to the Emirates in a four year deal for a fee in excess of £16 million with French football specialist Julien Laurens, claiming both on Twitter and Le Parisien (malheureusement, avec ‘un paywall’), that the player has opted to test his hand with the Gunners rather than Inter Milan.

M’Vila has long been touted as a possible Wenger acquisition and looks likely to provide much-needed competition to Alex Song in the defensive midfield position when he returns from international duty at the European Championships.

Having added much necessary firepower to the squad in the form of German international Lukas Podolski, it certainly looks as though Arsenal mean business as they prepare for next season.

Indeed, if a statement of intent were needed to persuade the likes of Van Persie and Walcott to sign new deals, they’ve certainly been given it.