Arsenal face Lucas Perez transfer dilemma as Deportivo offer £9m

Arsenal face the prospect of sanctioning a sizeable loss on Lucas Perez after Deportivo La Coruna submitted a £9million bid for the wantaway Spanish striker.

Lucas has made no secret of his desire to leave north London, and the situation became untenable last week when the striker staged showdown talks with Arsenal's lead negotiator Dick Law after Alexandre Lacazette was handed his No.9 shirt.

The 28-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career in Galicia, scoring 17 goals in 36 La Liga games in the 2015-16 season, and is eager to return after a frustrating season in England.

Deportivo have been equally public in their desire to reunite with Lucas, but would struggle to match the £17m fee they received from Arsenal a year ago.

Standard Sport understands Deportivo are yet to receive a response from Arsenal to the offer, with Lucas expected to attend further talks with the Emirates hierarchy this week after being left out of their pre-season tour of Australia and China.

As such, Arsene Wenger faces the prospect of either holding a player against his will or accepting a significant shortfall in earnings unless they can prompt a bidding war with other parties.

Though the likes of Sevilla are also keen to bring in Lucas, the striker has his heart set on a return to Deportivo, who are reportedly prepared to offer him a 10-year contract that will extend beyond his playing career into a backroom role.

Pressure on Arsenal to reach a solution over Lucas' future hit a peak yesterday as it emerged the striker had only become aware that his shirt number had been given to record signing Lacazette via the club's website.

After a season in which he scored seven goals in 21 appearances - nine of which were starts - Lucas has consistently made clear his desire to move on from Arsenal, where playing time will be even more limited in light of Lacazette's arrival.

Lucas' agent Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle told Standard Sport on Monday his client had been particularly unhappy over losing the No.9 shirt, given that Arsenal have denied Mesut Ozil the chance to take the No.10 shirt he has openly coveted from Jack Wilshere.

"Dick Law called us to inform us the moment it was on the web, it was a decision of Wenger with the player [Lacazette] on the flight to Australia, no one asked Lucas," Lovelle said.

"Arsenal won’t give Ozil the No.10 because he has another player, Jack Wilshere, who has it but is loaned out.

"Lucas was not asked whether he would give up his shirt."