IRONS STRIKE AGAIN Perez deal to take summer spending up to £100million

WEST HAM are trying to sign Arsenal forward Lucas Perez.

Manuel Pellegrini is hunting for a back-up striker to Marko Arnautovic and is keen on the Gunner, 29, who spent last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna.

Perez (above) joined Arsenal for £17.1million in the summer of 2016 and went on to score seven goals in 21 appearances in his debut campaign.

He was farmed out on loan by former Emirates chief Arsene Wenger, however, and will not be part of his successor Unai Emery’s plans for the coming season.

Sporting Lisbon have registered an interest in £5m-rated Perez, but the Spaniard is believed to be keen on staying in England and a move to West Ham would see boss Pellegrini take his summer spending to almost £100m.

Pellegrini (right) has ruled injury-prone Andy Carroll out of his plans after the ex-Newcastle targetman suffered another setback in pre-season which leaves him sidelined for the next two months. The Hammers had been interested in prolific Porto frontman Moussa Marega, who fired 22 goals in 29 Primeira Liga games last term. But his club are demanding around £36m for him with West Ham unable to meet that fee – which has left the Irons focusing on Perez.