The Spanish striker Lucas Perez has reportedly rejected any chance to stay in the Premiership with Newcastle or Everton, and has got his wish to return to his hometown club Deportivo La Coruña. The Standard has just reported it as a done deal, with Perez only going back to La Liga on a one-year loan, with no promise of becoming a permanent fixture next summer.
Arsenal wasted 17m GBP on the striker last August, but Wenger decided he was only going to be a backup and changed Alexis Sanchez into a centre forward rather than play Lucas, even when Giroud was injured at the start of the season. He was left on the bench for most of last season as Wenger seemed reluctant to play him in big games, despite scoring almost every time he was given a chance on the pitch.
The Standard reported: Lucas Perez has returned to Deportivo La Coruna on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
The Spanish striker, who moved in the opposite direction last season for £17million, will rejoin his hometown club, who have convinced Arsenal to agree to a deal without an obligation to buy at the end of the loan.
Arsenal had set a £13.8m (€15m) asking price for Lucas but Deportivo had found that to be too great a price for them to reach.
Should Lucas prove to be a success Deportivo may well look to keep the 28-year-old at the Riazor on a permanent basis but they are under no obligation to do so.
Perez was keen to return to La Liga in the hope that he could get a call up for next summers World Cup with the Spanish national team, but has never actually had a game for them so far. I think it is more likely that he wanted to return to his family and friends at home, and to ensure he played every week rather than sit and rot on the Arsenal bench….
A big mistake by Arsenal to have signed him last season, and they have lost a lot of money by agreeing to this deal..
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