Leeds United have approached Leicester City to inquire into a potential transfer for Ayoze Perez in January. The Spaniard has also now seen his likely switch to Villarreal fall through.
That is according to Ben Jacobs, who reports that Leeds have sounded out the likelihood of a deal for Perez. But the Elland Road natives are yet to advance their interest beyond their tentative approach. Instead, the Whites have kept his name on the back burner this month.
A swoop by Leeds director of football Victor Orta to prise Perez away from the King Power Stadium on deadline day is not entirely ruled out. He has failed to gain a prominent role in Brendan Rodgers’ team so far this season. The 29-year-old is also out of contract this June.
Perez joined Leicester from Newcastle United on a four-year contract worth £83k-a-week in July 2019. The Foxes triggered a £30m release clause in the winger’s deal with the Toon for a transfer. But he has since struggled to keep up the form that first attracted their interest.
Over 195 games across all competitions on Tyneside, Perez offered 48 goals and 17 assists with Newcastle. Yet through 114 appearances for Leicester, the former Spain U21 attacker has only scored 15 and assisted 12. He has only added one goal and an assist this season.
Villarreal are now out of the race with Leeds for the transfer of Leicester’s Perez
Rodgers has fielded Perez in 13 of Leicester’s fixtures so far this term for a total of just 700 minutes. Just 379 of those minutes have come during his eight Premier League outings this season. Perez has further only started three top-flight matches with two since Boxing Day.
So, with the 29-year-old’s contract expiring in the summer, Leicester have appeared willing to let Perez leave. Marca reported only last week that everything indicated to a transfer to Real Betis before Villarreal moved. It also noted that Perez was looking to leave the Foxes.
Villarreal appreciated Perez as they considered replacements for Arnaut Danjuma, after he joined Tottenham Hotspur, and Nicolas Jackson. But boss Quique Setien has now admitted that El Submarino Amarillo’s deal is off as Jackson’s move to AFC Bournemouth collapsed.
The Cherries pulled out of a £20m deal after Jackson failed his medical due to a hamstring injury, per The Athletic. Now, Leeds may have a chance to sign Perez as Leicester consider a transfer for a forward who Matt Ritchie called ‘unbelievable’ while together at Newcastle.
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