Lucas Perez joins Deportivo La Coruna on loan but Arsenal deal does not include obligation to buy

Lucas Perez has returned to Deportivo La Coruna on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

The Spanish striker, who moved in the opposite direction last season for £17million, will rejoin his hometown club, who have convinced Arsenal to agree to a deal without an obligation to buy at the end of the loan.

Arsenal had set a £13.8m (€15m) asking price for Lucas but Deportivo had found that to be too great a price for them to reach.

Should Lucas prove to be a success Deportivo may well look to keep the 28-year-old at the Riazor on a permanent basis but they are under no obligation to do so.

Several loan bids had been rejected by Arsenal earlier this summer but with Lucas having made clear his desperation to return to La Liga the Gunners found themselves backed into a corner.

Lucas scored seven goals in 21 appearances for Arsenal last season but struggled to carve out a starting role in Arsene Wenger’s side.

Arsenal’s decision to hand his No.9 shirt to Alexandre Lacazette without first informing him was to prove the “final straw” for Lucas, who only found out about the decision by checking the club website.