EX-ARSENAL star Lucas Perez has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, according to a shocking report.

The Spanish striker, who now plays for Dutch side PSV, is set to be sidelined for a long time with the illness.

Lucas Perez has been struck down with active tuberculosis

According to De Telegraaf, it is doubtful Perez will play again this season.

In a statement on their website, PSV said: "One of the players of PSV 1 has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The player is doing well under the circumstances.

"Although the chance of further infection is small, the situation is being closely monitored according to the standard protocols of the GGD.

"The situation was reported to GGD Brabant-Zuidoost. The attending pulmonologist, the PSV medical staff and the GGD Brabant-Zuidoost immediately took all necessary measures.

"Among other things, a source and contact investigation was started and those involved were informed.

"Together with GGD Brabant-Zuidoost, the standard protocols will continue to be followed and implemented.

"For now, there are no indications that people in the vicinity of the infected player have been infected."

As it stands, PSV's high-profile clash with Ajax is still scheduled to go ahead this weekend, but there is a risk the game could be called off if more cases of TB are found within the PSV squad.

An active TB infection usually affects the lungs and the person must be isolated for three to four weeks and undergo a course of antibiotics.

It has a long period of incubation before symptoms manifest themselves, during which time the patient is also contagious.

Common symptoms typically include a long-lasting cough, feelings of exhaustion, high temperatures, a loss of appetite, weight loss and generally feeling unwell.

Perez, 36, joined PSV one month ago after terminating his contract at Deportivo La Coruna in January.

He was not able to be registered to face his old club in the Champions League for PSV's last-16 clash with Arsenal due to the registration window passing before he signed.

He has played three times for the Eredivisie since joining.

But his estimated five to six week absence means he faces a race against time to play again before the Dutch clubs final game of the season on May 18 when they play Sparta Rotterdam.

Perez originally joined Arsenal in 2016 in a £17million transfer from Deportivo.

But he never managed to truly settle in North London despite having a solid record when playing, with seven goals and five assists in 21 games in all competitions.

Arsenal loaned Perez back to his hometown club, Deportivo in August 2017 before they sold him to West Ham the following summer.

He scored six goals in 19 appearances for the Hammers before they sold him a summer later to Spanish side Alaves.

Perez then bounced around from Elche to Cadiz and back to Deportivo for the fourth time in his career.

After joining PSV, Perez opened up about his difficult upbringing and strained relationship with his parents.

He told El Partidazo de Cope how his father had abandoned him as a child, saying: "I was raised by my grandparents, my father's parents.

"When I was two, my parents left me in an orphanage because they couldn't or didn't want to take care of me.

"This season, I received a complaint from my father demanding that I pay maintenance for the rest of his life.

"From then on, I spent several months until I left Deportivo with a lot of stress and a lot of anxiety because I had to relive very difficult moments in my life.

"When I signed for Arsenal, my mother also sent me a burofax demanding money... but she can't claim it because she's not listed in the joint custody.

"My grandparents asked for custody and, later, my grandmother allowed my father to take over. I was lucky to have my grandparents, but they couldn't last as long as they should have."

Discussing his recent exit from Deportivo and move to PSV Eindhoven, he continued: "I'm leaving now because the issue with my father continues. I've met him several times this Christmas and it's not a pleasant experience.

"Given that the situation at the club wasn't right, because I didn't feel valued or supported, I decided to be honest and tell them that I'm having a hard time stepping aside.

"The club and I spoke... There were two games left to reach the 20-year mark with which I was going to renew and I didn't want to.

"Two days later, after saying that we were going to take a break, I received a letter from the club asking me to sign a written commitment with them.

"I consider that they don't know what Deportivo means to me and when there is doubt like that, the best thing to do is to step aside."

Perez also disputed claims that he left Deportivo for financial reasons, insisting he actually stepped away due to his personal situation.

"What father doesn't want to be close to his son? Obviously I want to be close, but if my job doesn't allow it... I was already far away from him," he added.

"What happened is that they (the media) have echoed a lie and I am partly to blame for having allowed them to buy that lie. The person who released that information did so to hurt me."