10 Players Who Could Be Axed For Newcastle's Summer Recruits

3. Ayoze Perez

The little Spaniard managed to dazzle Newcastle fans last season with his excellent touch, eye for goal and trickery after his somewhat understated arrival. At £1.5 million, little was expected from Perez, who was only really called into the first team when injuries and/or lack of form elsewhere engulfed the other forwards at the club. Perez took his opportunities to play, and often in front of goal, netting seven Premier League goals in his first season in the English top flight. The problem with the arrival of Aleksandar Mitrovic is that, while having a big man to win the ball in the air might make it easier for Perez to work into space, the Spaniard is less likely to play through the middle than he has previously had the chance to. With Steve McClaren suggesting that he would be happy to keep Papiss Cisse on top of signing Mitrovic (while also reportedly looking to add Charlie Austin), the odds are the 21-year-old will have his opportunities restricted and may even need to go out on loan this year if he is to get the first-team football needed to continue his strong start to Premier League life. Perez does not really appear to have the crossing ability to play as a wide man and it would be a waste of his eye for goal but at present, it would seem this is his easiest route into the team. Despite being one of the best players at the club last season, the ex-Tenerife man needs to impress all over again with new management and competition at St James' Park.