According to reports from London Evening Standard, Arsenal forward Lucas Perez has re-signed for former employers Deportivo on a season-long loan.
What’s the word?
Ronald Koeman recently made no secret of Everton’s need to sign another striker before the end of the summer transfer window. The Toffees have already signed two this summer in the form of Wayne Rooney and Sandro Ramirez, but neither provide that penetration or physical foothold in the final third Everton seemingly need to truly challenge for a top four finish this season. Earlier today, it was reported by Sky Sports that the Merseysiders had accordingly made a season-long loan offer for Perez, but it now appears he’s returned to Deportivo instead.
“We need at least two more players to get numbers in, but the most important thing is to get a striker in. If you look at all the squads of the big teams, they have so many options.”
Is he that big a loss?
Perez’s stint in English football, assuming he won’t return next summer, won’t live too long in the memory. He hardly got a sniff at Arsenal last season and despite sanctioning his arrival at the cost of £17.1million, it always felt as if Arsene Wenger never really wanted the Spaniard at the club. That being said, Perez took the chances that came his way, particularly in the cups with a return of six in ten appearances. His record at Deportivo the season prior was very strong too, netting 17 times during his final campaign. Although he was a bit of a gamble for the Toffees, the overall evidence suggests he could have been a decent addition to lead the line with real pace and energy.
Where do Everton go now?
In all honesty, it’s hard to say – Ronald Koeman is seriously running out of options and may need to accept he’ll have to work with the tools he’s got for the rest of the season. Watford striker Troy Deeney comes to mind following Andre Gray’s move to Vicarage Road or perhaps a last-minute swoop for Christian Benteke or Olivier Giroud, but no alternative really convinces as an obtainable option at this moment in time.