If reports in the media are to be believed then Arsenal are set to sign Deportivo La Coruna’s Spanish striker Lucas Perez for a fee that is rumoured to be around £17 million. Deportivo are believed to have allowed the striker to miss the game against Real Betis so that he can have his medical in London.
It was earlier reported that the striker was a major target for fellow English club Everton, but Arsene Wenger is reported to have hijacked the deal and made a better offer for the 27-year old Spaniard. Perez is regarded as a late bloomer in terms of making his name in European football which means that Arsenal fans are unaware of the forward. Therefore, we have put together the five things you should know about the soon-to-be Arsenal striker:
#1 Lucas Perez is the Spanish Jamie Vardy
The potential Arsenal man could turn out to be a good value for money as there is a lot in common with him and former Arsenal target Jamie Vardy. The former plays the game with quick speed and is very aggressive in his approach towards the game.
He might not be a Luis Suarez or a Karim Benzema but the Spanish striker is a hard worker as he keeps himself busy throughout the game. The player is very similar to Vardy and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette in terms of quality. Perez had played at the top of Deportivo’s 4-2-3-1 formation last season and being the solo striker, he was always grinding to get those 17 goals.
The striker is also said to be very skillful and intelligent in terms of his attacking threat and will give a new dimension to Arsenal.
#2 He is a late bloomer
Lucas Perez is currently 27-years old but the Spaniard only rose to fame last season where he ended up with 17 goals and 8 assists for his club Deportivo La Coruna. The striker started his professional career at the age of 18 when he caught the eye of Atletico Madrid and spent two seasons representing their ‘C’ team in the Tercera Division.
He was always highly rated as a youngster but failed to settle at one club, as he moved around to numerous lower league teams in Spain. Lucas had enjoyed a reasonable goal return but couldn't move up the ranks in the Spanish capital. His spells at Rayo Vallecano and Ukrainian sides Karpaty Lviv and Dynamo Kiev did improve him as a player and he finally went on to Greek side PAOK where his development began.
The striker adjusted his game according to the needs of the team and secured a spot playing out wide at PAOK Thessaloniki. Perez’s first season at PAOK brought him 10 goals and 15 assists in all competitions which saw him being snapped up by Deportivo on loan. His return to Spain was later made permanent last season and he finished the following season as the club's top scorer.
#3 The striker can play on the flanks too
Lucas Perez had to adjust his game according to the needs of his clubs and the most important step that helped him in striving forward was him playing out wide during his time in Greece. The move saw the striker being a part of 25 goals in all out of which he had assisted 15.
The 27-year old has played as both a left winger and centre-forward over the course of his career to help his team but last season the Spaniard had blossomed as an out-and-out striker. At PAOK, Perez was used to playing on the left flank from which he used to drift inside. He was more of an inside forward than a classic winger in Greece as he has an eye for a good pass.
The Spaniard also scored some crucial goals for Deportivo last season. If the deal does go through, Perez will be the perfect player for Arsenal in the attacking third as he can link up with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
#4 He has a sublime left foot
There you go, Lucas Perez can strike a great ball from his left foot. As seen in the game in Greece, Perez is seen striking a sublime volley from a direct corner kick into the back of the net. The striker is naturally strong on his left foot but that does not mean that he does not have a right foot.
The Spaniard is a versatile player who can finish off attacks with either foot and his finishing ability has improved a lot in the last year with Deportivo. Arsene Wenger will be hoping that his new signing can get into the traditionally fluid Arsenal system.
The best part about the striker is that he has the ability to score from anywhere and any angle. The 27-year old is known for his long range shooting as well, and it is something very few Arsenal players are known for. The striker may not be the biggest or the world class striker that Arsenal fans have been waiting for, but he is certainly at his peak, and the likes of Ozil and Cazorla will help him thrive at the Emirates.
#5 He was close to signing for Barcelona
Lucas Perez has been on the radar of many clubs after having a great last season at Deportivo La Coruna. Along with the 17 goals in all competitions, the striker also provided his teammates with goal scoring opportunities and managed to create 72 chances in his 36 league appearances.
Perez was reported to be close to signing for Barcelona in this transfer window but the deal could not happen. The striker had showed glimpses of his quality to the Catalans as he crucially scored in the season-ending 2-2 draw against Barcelona to keep his club up in the top tier of Spanish football last season. The striker continued to make his name in Spain as he beat a club record by scoring in seven straight league games.
The striker loves his hometown where he had said that he “will never kiss any other badge” other than Deportivo’s and had also said, “I want to live here for the rest of my life.” But when a big club like Arsenal comes calling, you do not say ‘no’ and that is exactly what the Spaniard has done. At the Emirates, he will have a chance to become an exceptional striker from being just a decent one.
Barcelona could have provided this opportunity to the striker as well, but he would have to stay on the bench for most games behind Luis Suarez. However, he must know that Wenger favours performance rather than the name and the striker might have made the right decision.
