Rafa Benitez has now added his name to the long list of respectable managers in the Premier League next season and though he does not have the best of means to go all the way to the title, he sure is trying to add as much quality to his squad as possible this summer. He helped Newcastle United back to the top flight after just a year in the Championship and is now scouting for some exciting prospects for his side next season.
The Magpies lack a genuine goal scorer in their ranks that can tear the best defences in the league apart and the Spanish tactician is now looking at Arsenal’s want-away striker Lucas Perez for a move this summer.
Lucas Perez up for sale
The Spanish striker failed to have the kind of an impact that was expected of him last season and though he did come up with some decent performances, is now up for sale, as Arsenal have spent on Alexandre Lacazette to shore up their attack. Reports from the Evening Standard claim that the Gunners are willing to let go of Perez for around £13m this summer.
Newcastle United are one of the many clubs interested with Rafa pondering over meeting his valuation but is Perez a decent addition to the squad at the St James’?
A mini-SWOT analysis
Known for his strength and ability to hold the ball up in the final third, Perez is a decent finisher, who knows his way to the goal from long range as well. His key pass ratio, which was up there with the best for Arsenal last season, is what makes him a dangerous player. He is not a target man who can excel in England but is a smart player, who can turn into a beast if used in the right system.
He has 14 assists and 24 goals in just 58 La Liga appearances in his career, which shows his ability in front of goal and surely, he is an upgrade on the current option in the squad for the Magpies.
How will he settle in?
Rafa Benitez used the likes of Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic in front of goal, for their goal scoring prowess in the Championship last season, and though most of them have been more productive than Perez, the Spaniard is an upgrade on these options.
He may even walk into the first team and having already experienced the English league last season, albeit most of the time from the sidelines, he will consider himself ready to lead the line for a club that will want to, at the least, finish in the top half of the table. Do you think Perez is a decent option for Newcastle?
