DEPORTIVO

Lucas Pérez's next port of call could be Arsenal

The Londoners joined the chase for the Deportivo striker and like Everton, they are willing t9o stump up the player's 20 million euro buy-out fee.

A Coruña 25/08/2016 14:03

Lucas Pérez's next port of call could be Arsenal — EFE

Lucas Pérez's future is looking more and more likely to be spent in the Premier League, but probably at Arsenal rather than Everton. The Gunners have entered the race to land the striker and their offer is above an beyond the one Depor have put to the player to renew terms - an extension to 2023 with an annual pay packet in excess of one million euros.

The option of joining Everton has practically been discarded by the player. Even the promise of a substantial pay rise isn't enough to tempt the forward who, after playing abroad in Ukraine and Greece, would only consider quitting his beloved Depor for an important sporting project and he feels Arsenal offer that more than Everton because they are in this season's Champions League.

While the interest from Arsenal is known, Deportivo still have not received a concrete offer - contrary to Everton who have tabled a17.5 million euro bid. But in the Plaza de Pontevedra, club officials are well aware that if Arsène Wenger comes in with an offer, it will be almosty impossible to keep Lucas Pérez. Until that happens the player remains at Gaizka Garitano's disposal and the coach is expected to include in his in squad list for tomorrow's game against Betis.

Lucas Pérez's departure wouldn't exactly catch Depor by surprise; the club has received numerous enquiries for the centre-forward over the summer: Leicester, Sevilla, Barcelona… which is why the Galicians are studying a number of alternatives themselves to replace the player is he leaves.

Deportivo