CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed on the Back Pages podcast that Leicester City would be willing to part ways with Ayoze Perez this summer.
After finishing the 2018/19 season as Newcastle United’s top scorer, Leicester took the plunge to sign the Spaniard for £30m that summer.
However, his appearances have consistently decreased over his three-year tenure at the King Power Stadium, especially in the last couple of seasons playing just 39 times in the Premier League having missed just five top-flight games in his maiden campaign in the east Midlands.
Perez, who will be 29 before the new season starts, has scored just 14 goals in 100 games for the Foxes and having fallen out of favour the Chronicle claimed he was open to a shock return to St. James’ Park in January.
Now Jacobs has admitted that the attacker could be free to leave this summer but feels it could be a chance missed by Brendan Rodgers.
(1:14:38)”I think Leicester are fully open to selling him and they’re going to struggle to get anything close to what they paid for him.
“I can’t do a Leicester 11 where Perez starts but I can do a Leicester 11 where the type of Perez who showcased his skill set against Southampton starts and therefore it’s an interesting one because you’re not going to put him in your starting 11 when everyone’s fit, but that is what he is capable of.
“So it would be a shame if Leicester are unable to get the best out of him, but I fully appreciate why he just may not be part of the starting 11 or the focal plans for Rodgers due to other options but as I say, he’s clearly got that talent.”
TIF Thoughts on Perez and Leicester…
Would you keep Ayoze Perez?Yes
No
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Back in 2016, Toon legend Alan Shearer praised Perez for his ‘impressive’ showings in the north-east and initially the versatile frontman was one of the first names on the team sheet as he contributed to 12 league goals in his first season.
However, the competition for places has stifled his progression with Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka preferred to the former Spain U21 international as well as the talismanic Jamie Vardy.
It is unknown whether there would be any suitors willing to take Perez off Leicester’s hands although Jacobs did reference that a return to his home country was on the cards (1:16:24) and should the club find a bidder it is unlikely, as the insider pointed out, that they will recoup anywhere close to what they signed him for.