Arsene Wenger has reportedly apologised to Lucas Perez for giving away his shirt number without consulting him.
There was a bit of a drama when Lucas’ agent, Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle, revealed that Arsenal had handed the forward’s number 9 shirt to new signing Alexandre Lacazette without telling him.
It was cited as an example of Arsenal mistreating the striker. Now, according to the Metro, Arsene Wenger has apologised for all that, for all the difference it would make at this stage.
“He was the one that set that starting price of €15million and acknowledged that he was wrong in some things [giving Perez’s shirt number to Lacazette],” said Lovelle. “He apologised for not doing as they ought to.”
Lucas is currently training with Arsenal amid interest from Deportivo, Fenerbahce and Newcastle. The Gunners’ high asking price is said to be a stumbling block for all of those teams.
Deportivo are the only team to have made a bid recently, while Fenerbahce and Newcastle have explored the option of taking him on loan. Although Lucas is keen to get more playing time ahead of next summer’s World Cup, Lovelle says that his client is relaxed.
“Lucas Perez is calm, he has to train and worry about preparing for the season. He wants to play, he has said he wants to leave, but we also know that he has a three-year contract with a club that he signed 11 months ago,” he added.
“It’s important to be clear – it’s impossible that Lucas Perez can go to Deportivo today. To this day the best offer is from Deportivo. There is a lot of interest in the French league, the Turkish league, the Premier League, the Bundesliga.
“It’s normal, we’re talking about an Arsenal player who did not play a lot there but he’s the only one who scored in four competitions.” One would imagine that a deal will be done eventually, especially if Arsenal feel they won’t be able to get their asking price.
It could be a deal that won’t be completed until the end of the window. Otherwise, the former Depor striker will remain an Arsenal player and may not get any first-team minutes until a cup competition comes about, given what happened last season.
You’d think Arsenal would be keen to get the Spaniard off the wage bill and to another club, even if they took a hit to the £16m paid last summer. But Wenger appears to be standing firm, much to the annoyance of the Lucas camp.