Should Newcastle United keep or sell Ayoze Perez?

Ayoze Perez is the newest distraction on Tyneside thanks to his recent interviews in Spain. Should Newcastle United keep Perez or sell him this summer?

Ayoze Perez has been in the headlines all season for a wide range of reasons. Over the last week, however, the 25-year-old midfielder made headlines because of his interview for Marca, a popular sports newspaper in Spain. In this interview, Perez openly hinted that he does think of playing in La Liga and that the right time for that move could be very soon.

Perez is the longest serving Magpie on the roster having made 184 total appearances for Newcastle since joining from Spanish outfit Tenerife in 2014. Perez has made 137 Premier League appearances with the Toon and has scored 27 goals in the Top Flight. His commitment to Newcastle is admirable and he stayed on even when the Magpies were relegated two seasons ago. Should Newcastle disregard Perez’s interview or should the club consider selling him this summer?

Reasons to Keep Perez

There is no doubt that Perez is one of the most talented players on the team sheet. He may not showcase his talent and potential in every match, but when he is having a good day he is one of the best players on the pitch. Last season he led the team in scoring and assists with eight goals and five assists. This term he is on track to finish as the second-highest scorer on the team behind Salomon Rondon. He is a dynamic attacking midfielder who has scored goals through headers and with both feet.

Scoring aside, Perez is one of those players who always gets in good positions and creates chances for himself and for others. Moreover, Perez is the type of player who is motivated by playing superior opponents and he has performed well against most elite clubs in England. Perez is starting to reach his peak and Newcastle could still get even better form out of the Spaniard until his contract expires in 2021.

Reasons to Sell Perez

As talented as Perez is, there are plenty of noticeable flaws in his game. For starters, he gets into great positions to score goals, but he lacks precision. The number of golden opportunities that Perez has missed in front of goal are innumerable and those wasted chanced often led to Newcastle dropping points in matches. Over the course of his Top Flight career with Newcastle, Perez has only put 85 of his 213 shots on target.

In addition to not being clinical in the final third, Perez’s urgency has often been questioned by pundits and supporters. There are some matches where Perez’s name never gets mentioned and only earns recognition for arguing with the referee over a no-call. The biggest reason why Newcastle should consider selling Perez, though, is because of his current mentality. A source close to Perez stated that the midfielder is tired of fighting for survival with Newcastle and wants to take his talents to a more successful team in Spain.

The Magpies need to keep players who are fully focused on the team, but it looks like Perez has mixed feelings. Seeing that he is only 25-years-old and has had a decent Premier League career, the Toon could make a decent profit from selling Perez this summer. His potential move away from Tyneside could also see Miguel Almiron play in his traditional position as an attacking midfielder behind the striker.

What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments section below.