Ayoze Admits Other Teams Are Options

Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez is “open to options from other teams” amid further links to clubs in Spain and Italy this summer. Perez has been giving radio interviews in Spain as transfer speculation around the 25-year-old ramps up ahead of the market officially opening on May 16.

Inter Milan and Napoli have reportedly joined Real Betis in the running to sign the ex-Tenerife striker, whose agent feels he is capable of playing in the Champions League. And Perez is understood to be reluctant to spend another season in a club continually fighting against relegation.

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In a radio interview with Carrusel Deportivo, Perez said he could be “open to options that could come from other teams”, adding: “We’ll see what happens and hopefully whatever comes, it’ll be positive.” The Magpies could yet offer Perez, who has two years left on his contract, a new deal but nothing will happen until manager Rafa Benitez’s future is resolved.

Perez told Radio Marca Tenerife: “Newcastle is a great club, but now we are aiming for permanence. I was able to get into the top 10 of Newcastle’s goal scorers in the Premier League, and proud to get it. The truth that very happy of what has happened to me. “The relationship with Rafa Benítez is very good, he always tries to help me and I him in the dressing room. Besides that he speaks Spanish and everything is simpler.”

And on his working relationship with agent Olaf Bonales, he added: “The relationship with Olaf Bonales, more than professional, has become personal, and has been key to this success. “He has always wanted the best for me. Olaf has been the best thing that has happened to me in my career, we have a relationship that is not only professional, that makes the difference, coming to a place like this was not easy, and he always did his best to make it easier for me.”