According to reports in The Times on Tuesday, West Ham United are lining up a move for Arsenal striker Lucas Perez.

The 28-year-old only moved to the Emirates from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna last summer, but he has found first team opportunities hard to come by and could look to leave the north London outfit at the end of the season.

That news has attracted the attention of Irons boss Slaven Bilic, who is keen to sign a new attacker in the summer because of a lack of goals for his side this term, as well as the continued fitness doubts over Andy Carroll.

The Hammers’ problems are summed up by the fact that Michail Antonio – who has often been deployed out of position at right-back during the current campaign – is their top goalscorer with nine goals.

A new addition would certainly be a welcome sight for Bilic and the club’s supporters, but there are certainly some doubts as to whether the Gunners forward is the answer.

Here are three reasons West Ham should steer clear of signing Perez…

His price tag

Arsenal signed the striker for around £17m last summer, but despite his struggle to get into Arsene Wenger’s starting XI, The Times report that the Gunners rejected a £26m bid for the 28-year-old from a Chinese Super League club during the January transfer window.

That could mean that the price tag for Perez is set at a similar fee this summer, and they might have to pay it if they are to fend off interest from the big-spending teams from Asia.

Lack of games

Britain Football Soccer - AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal - Premier League - Vitality Stadium - 3/1/17 Arsenal's Lucas Perez scores their second goal  Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Although he might be getting a lot of grief from Arsenal supporters, manager Arsene Wenger knows what he is talking about and there must be a reason why Perez has made just two starts in all competitions for the club this season.

The Spaniard has scored one goal in 11 Premier League appearances – the majority of which have come from the substitutes’ bench – and has often been overlooked for a spot in the starting XI even when the likes of Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez have been absent.

His career

Football Soccer - FC Basel v Arsenal - UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Group A - St.Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - 6/12/16 Arsenal's Lucas Perez celebrates scoring their third goal with Granit Xhaka Reuters / Arnd Wiegmann  Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Prior to scoring 17 goals in the 2015/16 season for Deportiva La Coruna, Perez’s record of goalscoring during his career isn’t actually that impressive.

His overall record is less than one goal every three matches and he netted just 12 times in 52 outings in all competitions for Greek side PAOK before his move to Spain.

If Bilic is looking for a prolific attacker this summer, the stats would suggest that the 28-year-old isn’t the answer.

Do YOU agree, West Ham fans? Let us know below.