Arsenal have agreed a
£7.9m (€9m) fee with Werder Bremen for Mertesacker, 26, and will pay Fenerbahce
£6.2m (€7m) for Santos, who is 28.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Germany manager Joachim Low revealed that he had given Mertesacker dispensation to travel to London and sign for Arsenal.
Low said:
"Per knocked on my door yesterday late evening. He told me that he received an offer, I gave him one day off [to sort things out]. I expect him to be back at the German camp later."Werder general manager Klaus Allofs has confirmed that Mertesacker has long wanted to move to the Emirates.
He told Sportinformationsdienst:
"Per has had the wish to force his career [for] some time. He wanted to play for a big European club. Arsenal was always his favourite club."Werder Bremen's media director Tino Polster has also stated that the defender is in England as talks continue over a move.

"Arsenal has sent a request to us. Both clubs are in talks. Per travelled to London," Polster said.
Reports in Germany say that 6ft 6in Mertesacker has agreed an £80,000-a-week (€90,000) deal while Santos is said to have negotiated an Arsenal contract worth £40,000-a-week (€45,000) after they had met Fenerbahce's asking price for the attacking full-back.
just look at the pic of PER MERTESACKER... sensual no?
This post has been edited by slcroy: Aug 31 2011, 12:23 AM