During the Mike Ashley era, Newcastle United were not always known for being shrewd recruiters in the transfer market. However, they did have an occasional knack for landing the odd gem and Spanish forward Ayoze Perez fell into that category.
He was plucked from relative obscurity in Tenerife after starring in Spain's second tier for a fee reported to be just £1.5m, making him a relatively low-risk addition. Although sometimes frustratingly inconsistent, he managed to make a surprising 195 appearances for the Magpies and scored 48 goals, particularly impressing under the tutelage of Rafael Benitez.
During his time on Tyneside, he proved capable of leading the line, playing as a second striker and operating on the right of a front three, establishing himself as key player under Alan Pardew, John Carver, Steve McClaren and Benitez. His exploits in black and white eventually attracted the attention of Leicester City, who surprised a few by activating a £30m release clause for Perez' services back in July 2019.
