Arsenal outcast Lucas Perez could be leaving the Premier League after just one season with Turkish giants Fenerbahce seemingly keen on his services.
The Spaniard joined the Gunners from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna last summer with a view to establishing himself in the English top-flight.
However, his chances were limited over the course of the 2016/17 season, and he ended the campaign with 21 appearances – only 11 of them being in the Premier League. Perez has publicly stated that he feels ‘cheated’ at the north London giants, and he is expected to push for a fresh challenge elsewhere before this month’s transfer deadline.
Speaking to Turkish Football, agent Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle admitted that Fenerbahce have been in discussions for Perez over the past two months, and the Istanbul outfit look the most likely to acquire his signature this month, he said: “We are in talks with Fenerbahce but Arsene Wenger does not want a loan move.
Wenger wants €15m [£13.4m] for Lucas. He still has another three years on his contract so Arsenal hold all the cards. Fenerbahce, two Spanish teams and a Bundesliga side have made an offer for Lucas. Fenerbahce are the most serious and we have been in talks for two months.”
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Arsenal are reluctant to take anything less than £13.4m as this already represents a £3.7m loss on what they paid to Deportivo 12 months ago. Former club Deportivo have already lodged an approach for the attacker, but the Gunners have had no second thoughts on their bid as it was well below their expectation.
Perez wants to feature regularly for a top European club in order to realise his World Cup dream with Spain, but it looks unlikely to happen from the Premier League with Newcastle United also reluctant to match his price tag.
