Newcastle United have entered the chase for Lucas Perez but are as yet not ready to match Arsenal’s £13.4million valuation.

Standard Sport understands that Rafa Benitez’s side lodged their interest in the Arsenal striker last week but are yet to make a formal move for the 28-year-old forward, who is desperate to move on from Arsenal after a disappointing season.

Newcastle are believed to prefer a loan move for Lucas, who would expect to get the regular game time at St James’ Park that he did not receive after his £17m move to Arsenal last summer.

However, the Magpies are not the only club targeting Lucas.

Deportivo La Coruna last week submitted a £9m offer for Lucas but Arsenal are holding out for over £4m more, though the Gunners would be reluctant to hold the unsettled forward against his will.

Lucas has made no secret of his preference to return to his birthplace of A Coruna, where he returned in 2014 to spend two seasons. The latter was the most productive of his career, as he scored 17 goals in 37 games to attract interest from Arsenal.

However Lucas only made 21 appearances in all competitions under Arsene Wenger last season, scoring seven goals. His first-team opportunities will be even more limited in the coming months after Arsenal’s £52m signing of Alexandre Lacazette.

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Indeed it was Wenger’s decision to hand Lucas’ No.9 shirt to Lacazette without informing the Spaniard that proved to be the “final straw” for the forward.

Speaking after a 2-1 defeat to Benfica yesterday Wenger insisted Lucas was in his plans for next season, adding that the Spaniard’s public complaints about being given the No.28 would be dealt with “internally”.

Lucas’ agent Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle still expects his client to move before the end of the transfer window.

He told Standard Sport: “If he said Lucas was leaving he would have to cut the price for him to exit. It is logical [to say he’s staying]. He is a good businessman.”