Arsenal could sign 24-year-old and 28-year-old centre-backs this week

Arsenal are reportedly ready to sign Valencia and West Bromwich Albion centre-backs Shkodran Mustafi and Jonny Evans before the new Premier League season starts this weekend, according to the Mirror.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was already looking to sign a central defender following the news that Per Mertesacker has been ruled out for up to four months with a knee injury suffered in pre-season, but the French boss suffered a further blow on Sunday when Gabriel Paulista injured his ankle ligaments against Manchester City, and he could now look to bring in two instead.

The north London outfit have been left with just one fit senior centre-half for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday in the form of Laurent Koscielny, who only returned to training at the weekend following his exertions with France at Euro 2016, where the hosts were beaten by Portugal in the final.

Mustafi has a £42 million release clause but Valencia are understood to be willing to accept an offer of £25 million for the Germany international, while Northern Irish defender Jonny Evans is valued at around £15 million by West Brom.