Arsenal reportedly look set to sell Lucas Perez with Premier League opponents West Ham United in need of a new striker.
Not much has gone right for Lucas Perez since that £17 million move to Arsenal in the summer of 2016.
The Spanish striker started just two Premier League games under Arsene Wenger in 2016/17 and a loan return to former club Deportivo La Coruna last summer went about as badly as could be expected. Perez scored eight goals but his boyhood side were relegated from La Liga.
Yet it seems that the 29-year-old is set to be offered a chance to kick-start his career again.
Reports emerged over the weekend saying that big-spending West Ham United had been in contact with Arsenal about signing Perez. And the Sun (6 August, page 50) is reporting that Manuel Pellegrini could finalise a deal for the forward as early as Monday despite interest from Serie A outfit Lazio.
The Mirror (6 August, page 45) reports that Perez is valued at around £5 million, with Arsenal seemingly accepting that they will have to take a big loss on a player who has scored just one league goal for the club.
And, although West Ham were allegedly interested in Porto’s Moussa Marega, the fact he would cost £36 million makes a cut-price deal for Perez even more tempting.
Quick, direct and not too dissimilar in style to Jamie Vardy, there is no reason why Perez could not succeed in England if given half a chance.
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