Arsenal beat Everton to signing Lucas Perez from Deportivo de La Coruña

Deportivo de La Coruña’s Lucas Perez.

Latest reports indicate that Arsenal have beaten Everton by signing of Deportivo de La Coruña’s Lucas Perez for £16.9million on Thursday. Daily Mail

The signing has taken place despite Arsene Wenger's claims that Alexis Sanchez can solve Arsenal’s striker problems by becoming the new Luis Suarez.

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Everton had already agreed personal terms with the forward, but the move was on hold following late interest from the Gunners. Lucas scored or assisted 25 goals in La Liga last season.

Now 27, Lucas Pérez, known simply as Lucas, is the archetypal late bloomer. He was highly rated as a youngster and moved around numerous lower league clubs in Spain.

But in 2007, aged 18, he caught the eye of Atletico Madrid and spent two seasons playing for their 'C' team in the Tercera Division.

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Lucas enjoyed a reasonable goal return but couldn't move up the ranks in the Spanish capital. Spells at Rayo Vallecano and Ukrainian sides Karpaty Lviv and Dynamo Kiev followed.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

The latter, however, proved damaging for his confidence and it took a move to Greece with PAOK for his real rise to begin.