Ayoze Perez looks set to stay at Premier League outfit Leicester City with Villarreal coach Quique Setien suggesting that a return to Spain is no longer on the cards, speaking to El Periodico Mediterraneo.
With a shin problem keeping the former Newcastle United forward out of Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup fourth round win at Walsall, it was tempting to wonder if Perez would be denied the chance to bid an on-pitch farewell to the Leicester supporters.
The 29-year-old is entering the final few months of his King Power contract. And, according to Marca, Perez was ‘very close’ to joining Villarreal this month; last season’s Champions League semi-finalists identifying the one-time Tenerife starlet as a potential replacement for the then-Bournemouth-bound Nicolas Jackson.
But, with Bournemouth pulling out of a £20 million deal for Senegal international Jackson due to concerns over his hamstring injury, Perez suddenly finds himself in limbo ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline (The Athletic).
Ayoze Perez’s future at Leicester City uncertain
“He is a good player,” former Barcelona and Real Betis coach Setien says of Perez, who set Leicester back £30 million in the summer of 2019. “In principle, if Jackson were to leave, (Perez) would have been a good reinforcement.
“Now, I hope we stay as we are.
“Keeping Jackson is like having a new signing. We have a player we already know and who has extraordinary potential. We’re going to boost him so that he’s worth twice as much in the summer.
“We are going to help him so that this small disappointment (missing out on that Bournemouth move) passes.”
While Jackson looks destined to stay put at the Estadio de la Ceramica, for the time being at least, one Villarreal attacker has already departed for the Premier League this month. Arnaut Danjuma joined Tottenham Hotspur on an initial loan deal last week.
And the Dutch international marked his Spurs debut with a goal during that Heung-Min Son-inspired 3-0 FA Cup triumph over Preston North End at Deepdale. Danjuma’s arrival, meanwhile, paves the way for Bryan Gil to re-join former employers Sevilla.
“Seville is his home,” says Alfonso Gil, the 21-year-old’s father. “(Sevilla coach Jorge) Sampaoli has been (chasing) him for three years now.”
“In 2017, Bryan Gil was with us (training with the first-team). Bryan arrived and he was very young. He ended up being an outstanding player. I loved him,” adds Sampaoli, now in his second spell in charge of the Andalusians.
“I wanted to take him to Olympique de Marseille.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
