Deportivo La Coruna: 'Difficult to re-sign Lucas Perez'

Deportivo La Coruna president Tino Fernandez has admitted that his club's chances of re-signing Lucas Perez from Arsenal in this summer's transfer window are "remote".

Perez earned a move to London last August after finding the back of the net on 17 occasions for Deportivo during the 2015-16 La Liga campaign.

The Spaniard has struggled to make his mark in England, however, and only started two Premier League matches for Arsenal last term.

In May, Perez's agent revealed that Deportivo had first refusal on the 28-year-old this summer, but Fernandez has conceded that it will be difficult for the La Liga club to re-sign the forward.

"Lucas is at a great club who made a big financial effort for him, there's a high level there and also the desire of the club is not to look for an exit," Fernandez told reporters.

"We've spoken to Arsenal, we were interested and we informed them of that, although it's true that that was days ago and other things have happened since then, like the fact that he will not be with the team for a few games. The possibility of a return to Depor? It's remote."

Perez, who scored eight times for Arsenal last season despite his lack of football, has been left out of the Gunners squad for their pre-season trip to Australia.