Lucas Perez appears to finally be close to a return to Deportivo, with Arsenal resigned to losing him on loan.

According to the Daily Mail, Lucas will move back to Deportivo on a season-long loan, with the Spanish club paying Arsenal a fee of £4m. The aim will then be a permanent transfer the following summer.

For Arsenal, this would represent a compromise from their initial demands that any club interested in Perez pay at least £13m for the forward. Deportivo were either unwilling or unable to offer this much, so a smaller fee and a temporary move seems like the next best option for both clubs.

Lucas joined Arsenal last summer, and made 11 league appearances for the Gunners, but didn’t complete the full 90 minutes in a single league game, scoring just one goal for his troubles. I feel he was harshly treated by Arsenal given he scored goals in cup competitions but was never given much of a go in the Premier League.

Arsenal fans will be hopeful that this deal can finally get over the line and the protracted saga will be over. Until next summer at least.