Prominent Premier League pundit Danny Mills has told Football Insider of his surprise to see reports linking Tottenham Hotspur with a move for Newcastle ace Ayoze Perez.
The 25-year-old Spaniard is reportedly the subject of a €28million (£24.7m) bid by Spurs, as they look to replace Erik Lamela with someone Mauricio Pochettino has long been chasing.
Tottenham are also seemingly acting early to ward off the interest emerging across North London at Arsenal, as well as in Italy with Napoli and Inter Milan, and Spain through Atletico Madrid and Valencia.
Chairman Daniel Levy’s suspected bid, however, is some way shy of the valuation Newcastle hold for Perez, as a source from within the club allegedly told Football Insider earlier in the month that we would hold out for at least £35million.
If an offer in that region were to come out way, however, Mills believes we should jump at the chance to cash in on Perez, having signed the forward for £1.5million five-years ago. Not that he feels an offer should be placed, let alone at that price, though.
“I’d been stunned if Tottenham signed him,” Mills said. “He has been at Newcastle for five years and had half a good season. He has hardly ripped up any trees.
“If you can get a big fee, sell him. I would go for it if I was Newcastle. He is certainly replaceable, especially if they can get decent money to invest back into the team.”
Since his arrival on Tyneside in 2014 from childhood side CD Tenerife, Perez has made 195 appearances for United, in which he has scored 48 times and assisted a further 17.
The 5 ft 8 star has also increased his goal involvement in the Premier League with every campaign since our promotion back into the top-flight, and was involved in more than ten strikes in both seasons.