OPINION
Newcastle United supporters are likely to be in agreement with a report suggesting that forward Ayoze Perez deserves to be rewarded for his performances this season with a new contract.
Perez has enjoyed an excellent campaign this season, with the Spaniard having his most productive spell in front of goal for Newcastle since he signed for the club in 2014.
The 25-year-old managed to score 13 goals in all competitions for Rafa Benitez’s side this season, ten of which came during a purple patch in the second half of the campaign, and Perez’s 12 Premier League goals in 37 appearances were instrumental in helping the Magpies escape any relegation danger on their way to a 13th place finish.
The Spaniard reportedly earns £45,000-a-week on his current contract [Spotrac], but Newcastle might need to offer him a new deal to warn off any potential teams who could be considering making a move for Perez.
Benitez, whose own Newcastle future is still unclear at the moment, will be wanting to ensure that he is able to keep players of the caliber of Perez if he remains in charge at St James’ Park this summer, and the Spaniard could ensure that by offering the 25-year-old a new deal, which would be fully deserved according to what talkSPORT have claimed.
Not only did Perez have a productive personal season, but he also was able to form a very productive partnership with Salomon Rondon, with the pair combining to become the first Newcastle strike duo to both reach double figure since Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba in the 2011/12 season.
Newcastle will be hopeful of keeping hold of Rondon next season, with the Venezuela international returning to his parent club West Bromwich Albion after completing a season-long loan at St James’ Park, but if they are unable to secure a permanent move then it will be even more vital to keep Perez.
Perez, like some Newcastle fans, will be feeling like he maybe deserves a new and improved contract from the club, after cementing himself as one of the club’s most important players during the course of the season.
