Perez pain for Benitez

Klopp: Phil not for sale

NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez fears he will miss out on Arsenal striker Lucas Perez.

Deportivo La Coruna are confident Perez will head back to Spain, dealing another blow to Benitez’s hopes of strengthening his squad.

Perez, right, has made no secret of the fact he prefers a move to Deportivo ahead of St James’ Park. Deportivo cannot match Arsenal’s £13million asking price but believe they can thrash out a compromise agreement.

Benitez has missed out on several transfer targets during the close season. He said earlier this week he was unhappy with owner Mike Ashley’s failure to back him in the transfer market but played down talk he could walk out. He wants to bring in three players and is hopeful of signing Chelsea’s Kenedy – despite the Brazilian being sent home from his club’s preseason tour of China after he posted offensive messages on social media. The 21-year-old can play anywhere down the left flank. SPORTING Lisbon have told West Ham they will have to pay £40million if they want William Carvalho.

The Hammers have tabled a club-record £27.1m bid for the Portugal midfielder, but Sporting say they will not sell for less than his £40m release fee.

The Hammers have made Carvalho their prime target. But they would have to let players go to fund the deal, including Sofiane Feghouli and Robert Snodgrass.