Lucas Perez has been left out of Arsenal pre-season tour of Australia.
The Gunners fly Down Under on Monday as they prepare for the new campaign by facing Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers in friendlies.
But Perez, who only managed to net once in 11 Premier League appearances in his debut season on north London, is not set to fly with his teammates, as first reported on Football.London.
The Spaniard is keen on a move away - and is plotting a switch back to La Liga, less than 12 months after joining from Deportivo La Coruna for £17.1m
It is understood that Perez's former club Deportivo want to re-sign the forward, but Arsenal will not sell the player for less than the £17million fee they paid for him last summer.
Deportivo manager Pepe Mel says the striker would be welcome back to Deportivo, but the asking price could prove a stumbling block: "Everyone understands that Depor wants Lucas.
“I know Arsenal well, they do not give away anything, especially if they have paid more before.
"I told the president to work hard on plan B, because it will probably be the most feasible. But of course we would be waiting with open arms for Lucas because it would make us a team with many more options.”
Perez still dreams of representing Spain at next year's World Cup, and feels only regular football will give him a chance of featuring in Russia.
However, Alexandre Lacazette's record £52million arrival from Lyon will move the Spaniard further down the pecking order at the Emirates, and also casts a doubt on the future of Olivier Giroud.
Everton, Marseille and Lyon remain in the hunt for the Frenchman, but it is thought Giroud is ready to stay and fight for his place in the team.