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Arsenal are closing in on their second summer signing with a club record deal imminent for Alexandre Lacazette.

The Gunners have been locked in talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over the 26-year-old striker and an agreement is now in place ahead of a move which could eventual total around £53 million.

The deal will be a major boost to Arsene Wenger, who knows getting this summer right will be key having taken the controversial decision to extend his stay in north London.

Many fans wanted the Frenchman to leave after the FA Cup final win against Chelsea, but he opted to sign a new two-year contract instead - much the frustration of those who had been protesting against the manager during the second half of last season.

To try and quell the unrest, Wenger and Ivan Gazidis are targeting a big summer as they look rebuild a squad that struggled to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.

The duo started out with a shortlist of three key transfer targets and Lacazette was one of those three. But what does his arrival mean for one of the other names on that list, Kylian Mbappe?

Wenger has been battling with Real Madrid for Mbappe, arguably the most sought after player in Europe right now - and Lacazette’s imminent arrival will not put an end to that hunt.

Mbappe is currently mulling over his future and should he opt for the Emirates over the Bernabeu or big spending Paris Saint Germain, the Arsenal boss will still push for that deal to be done.

Wenger is insistent that should the opportunity arrive to sign the Monaco striker, it’s one the club must take

The future of Alexis Sanchez remains key to the summer rebuild at Arsenal, with the Chile international yet to reveal to the Gunners whether he will sign the contract offer that is on the table.

Wenger has insisted that the Chile striker will remain in north London whatever happens, but expectations are that - should Sanchez ask to the leave - the club will be forced to accept a bid of around £50m for the forward who scored 30 goals last season.

Manchester City are confident they will be able to strike a deal for Sanchez.