Lucas Perez could be a Deportivo La Coruna player as soon as next week, according to the club’s manager Pepe Mel.

As revealed by Standard Sport last month the Arsenal forward has made a return to his hometown of A Coruna his top choice in the transfer window after being made available for transfer only a year after moving to the Premier League.

Deportivo had found it difficult to match Arsenal’s £13.7million (€15m) asking price and it is understood that the club are yet to improve on their £11m offer.

However such is Deportivo's desperation that president Tino Fernandez has promised the club’s manager that Lucas will come back to Spain next week.

“Tino Fernandez has told me that Lucas Perez will be here next week, and he is very stubborn,” Mel said.

“I have no choice but to believe him.”

Lucas scored 17 goals in 37 appearances for the Galician side during the 2015-16 season, form that earned him a £17m move to Arsenal. However he struggled for regular opportunities at Arsenal, making only two starts in the Premier League.

Although Deportivo are eager to tie up a deal swiftly Arsenal may be inclined to wait, with the declining value of Sterling against the Euro meaning they stand to earn more for Lucas the longer they hold on to the Spanish striker.