Arsenal may finally sign another player this summer as they are close to signing a striker, according to reports. Lucas Perez from Deportivo is the latest name to be circulated in the papers and linked to sign for the Gunners in this transfer window.
Arsene Wenger has come under criticism for his inability to sign players, even when the funds are available to him. Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach is the only recognised first-team player that has arrived at the Emirates this summer.
Scored frequently last year
Lucas Perez scored 17 goals in 36 appearances last season, which was his best in La Liga. Perez is yet to win a cap for the Spanish national team but his good form has made sure that he will be in the reckoning of Spain's new manager, Julen Lopetegui.
The 27-year-old can also play on the wing as well as his favoured position, the centre-forward role.
Perez can effectively share the workload with Olivier Giroud as he is a striker who likes to run behind the defenders, which will give Arsenal's attack another dimension.
Everton, Sevilla, and Valencia interested too
Arsenal are said to have been tracking the Spanish striker for a year and now have gone on to rival Everton's offer for Perez. Steve Walsh, the man behind finding talents like Riyad Mahrez and N'golo Kante, wanted the Spaniard at Leicester too.
After Walsh made the switch to Everton, the Toffees have rekindled their interest in Perez. Arsenal can offer Champions League football to the forward which may make the decision easier for Perez to choose between the two clubs.
Lucas Perez has a release clause of £16.9 million for Deportivo La Coruna and the Gunners are ready to shell out the sum as they are badly in need of a striker. Everton, too, are said to be in the race, but Arsene Wenger is expected to persuade the player to make a move to the Emirates.
Valencia and Sevilla were also interested but Deportivo made it clear that Arsenal are in advanced talks for Perez.
Perfect for Arsenal
Though he is not a famous name in England, Perez can be another smart buy from Arsenal as the 27-year-old fits into the Gunners' style of play perfectly. Perez created 72 chances last season with a shot accuracy of 59%, as he scored 17 goals in the 2015-16 season.
This number may improve considering that the Spaniard will receive balls from the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal are also in the market for a centre-back as both of their targets, Shkodran Mustafi and Jonny Evans are set to stay at their respective clubs this summer.
