Arsenal close in on Brazil defender

Arsenal were today close to completing the signing of Brazil left-back Andre Santos, it is understood.

The Gunners have agreed a fee with Turkish giants Fenerbahce – reportedly £6.2m – with the move subject to a medical and personal terms being agreed.

Santos, 28, would help fill the void left by the sale of Gael Clichy to Manchester City and the likely departure of Armand Traore to QPR.

Traore was part of the Arsenal defence humiliated 8-2 by Manchester United on Sunday - one of the worst results in the club's history.

With time running out before tomorrow evening’s transfer deadline, it appears beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger has responded to calls to spend his way out of trouble.

South Korea captain Park Chu-Young was expected to complete his move from Monaco later today, while the Gunners have been linked with a host of other names, including Chelsea trio Florent Malouda, Alex and Yossi Benayoun.

They also last week saw a bid rejected for Bolton’s Gary Cahill as they look to improve a defence that has, at times, been left woefully exposed in the past year.