FC Barcelona are looking at Lucas Perez as a possible emergency signing to replace Luis Suarez this month, according to reports in Spain.

Barcelona are really doing the rounds of Arsenal strikers past and present as they look to replace Suarez, and Lucas Perez is the latest on the list. The media also linked Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Olivier Giroud with a La Liga switch in January.

As for Perez, AS claim he’s one of Barcelona’s ‘biggest priorities’ as a forward signing. The club are allowed to bring a player in outside the transfer window as a result of Ousmane Dembele’s recent five-month injury.

Toni Juanmarti of Sport is slightly less emphatic about Barcelona’s interest. He writes that Perez isn’t the club’s first choice, and the player knows it.

Juanmarti adds that the former Gunner is the keenest of Barca’s options, however. Perez is – unsurprisingly – totally willing to make the transfer from Alaves.

ESPN reporter Moi Llorens claims Barcelona’s choice is down to Angel Rodriguez or Lucas Perez now. No other options are available.

So how did we get here, from the man who could barely even get a game for Arsenal or West Ham?

Perez is having a good season in La Liga with Alaves. He is up to nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances for the bottom-half side.

In normal circumstances, that still wouldn’t be enough to get a move to Barcelona. Things are getting a bit desperate though, so it’s not completely out of the question. If it’s going to happen, you’d expect a swift conclusion to the saga now.