OPINION
Newcastle United attacker Ayoze Perez may end up huffing and puffing to get an exit but his reported price tag could deal him a blow as it could deny him an attractive move to Valencia.
Football Insider previously reported that the Magpies 25-year-old was expected to push for an exit with Rafa Benitez set to leave the club, with The Sun also claiming that Perez is one of several players considering their futures.
Yet while Perez may attempt to manoeuvre his way out of the club, despite being contracted to the club until 2021, it doesn’t seem like he’ll end up at Valencia based on Goal’s report.
The football outlet claimed that the Spanish club are close to putting together an offer for the Magpies attacker, with Perez keen to return to Spain, but the player’s price tag is too high for them.
Goal reported that Newcastle value Perez as being worth £22million, and they are hardly likely to budge given that it’s not a ridiculous amount to ask for.
After all the 25-year-old ended his 2018/19 campaign in style as he racked up six goals in his last five league games of the season, in order to end up the Magpies’ top scorer with 13 goals ahead of Salomon Rondon.
Perez’s price reflects how important he is to the Magpies’ squad, he was involved with 33% of his side’s league goals last season, and his potential replacement will likely cost at least £22million.
Also given that Italian outlet Calcio Napoli previously claimed Tottenham had bid £24.5million for Perez, something in hindsight that has appeared not to be true, it does show that a team paying north of £20million is believable.
Valencia would likely be considered an ideal destination by Perez as not only will it see him get his wish to play his football in Spain, they’re set to be in the Champions League in the 2019/20 season after finishing fourth in La Liga.
The 25-year-old has never played in the prestigious tournament and would no doubt love to as that’s an honour for any player, but also if he featured in the Champions League it might help fulfil his dream, which he revealed to Marca, of featuring for Spain’s senior side.
Therefore it seems Perez could be dealt a blow over his price tag as it could stop him getting his ideal move to Valencia regardless if he pushes his own agenda behind the scenes at the Magpies.
