According to Marca, Deportivo Alaves are interested in the services of Lucas Perez. The Spanish outfit are desperate to sign new attackers following the end of Jonathan Calleri, Borja Baston and Diego Rolan’s loan spells. And it is believed that they have set their sights on Perez.
The report also claims that they have made contact with Newcastle United regarding the potential transfer of Joselu. That means Perez and Joselu could move to their native Spain this summer, should Alaves achieve deals for both of these attackers.
Lucas Perez’s struggles in England
Life has been difficult for Perez since moving to the Premier League back in 2016 in a €20 million transfer to Arsenal. The Spaniard made only 21 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions. And though he scored seven goals, three of them came in the Champions League win over Basel.
As a result, he was shipped back to Deportivo La Coruna the following summer on a season-long loan deal. Perez did find his scoring boots after returning to Spain, having been involved in 14 goals during the 2017/18 campaign.
Despite that, he moved to West Ham last summer for a fee of just €4 million. And his struggles in English football continued, scoring only three goals in 15 games under Manuel Pellegrini in the recently concluded Premier League campaign. And even then, two of those three goals came in the win over relegated Cardiff City back in December.
Hence, a move back to La Liga seems like a logical move for the ex-Deportivo attacker, who can be an asset for Alaves next season.
Should West Ham United let him leave?
The lack of precision in the attack has been a bit of a problem for West Ham under the tutelage of Pellegrini. The likes of Andy Carroll and Javier Hernandez have struggled to provide a genuine threat inside the penalty area either due to injuries or lack of form.
Perez, too, has been a culprit, having failed to step up his game after a horrendous spell at Arsenal. And it seems as if the Hammers are better off without the Spaniard next season, given how less of an influence he has been in the attack this term.
The departure of Perez will help West Ham reduce their wages and also fund moves for their potential targets this summer. Fernando Llorente, for one, has been eyed as a top target and Perez’s move to Alaves should make way for the veteran Tottenham forward, who is set to leave the club after seeing out his contract with Spurs.
