Newcastle are interested in signing Arsenal forward Lucas Perez but face competition from Deportivo La Coruna and Fenerbahce, reports The London Evening Standard.
Perez is free to leave Arsenal after just 12 months at the club and the Spanish forward was left furious after his No.9 jersey was handed to club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette behind his back earlier this summer.
Arsene Wenger has since apologised to the 28-year-old but the winger is still expected to leave the Emirates as Arsenal look to trim their squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Arsenal paid £17m for Perez last summer but are now willing to sell the versatile forward for as little as £13m and Newcastle are interested in handing the Spaniard a move that will allow him to stay in the Premier League.
However, Rafa Benitez’s side face competition from boyhood club Deportivo, who are reportedly even willing to hand Perez a 10-year deal to return to the club.
Lucas Perez: Played a direct hand in a Champions League goal more frequently than any other player last season (every 27.2 mins of action) pic.twitter.com/WFibhgYKr0
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 28, 2017
Not only that, but reports emerged on Thursday suggesting Perez has agreed personal terms with Turkish giants Fenerbahce, although they may struggle to match Arsenal’s valuation.
Perez grew disillusioned by his lack of game time last season and was limited to just two starts in the Premier League. Opportunities weren’t particularly forthcoming in the Champions League either, but he still managed to played a direct hand in five goals for the Gunners.
In fact, no player had a direct hand in a Champions League goal more frequently than Perez last season (1 every 27.2 minutes of action).
