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Barça close to signing Paco Alcacer |
FC Barcelona are on the verge of signing striker Paco Alcacer from Valencia this summer according to various reports in Spain.
The Catalan club are searching for a fourth forward to add to their ranks and names previously linked to the club are Luan Vieira and Lucas Perez, however, it now seems 22-year old Valencia striker Paco Alcacer will arrive at the Camp Nou instead after sources Mundo Deportivo, Catalunya Radio, SPORT and RAC1 report that the Valencia club are in very advanced negotiations with Barça for the transfer of the player.
President of Valencia Peter Lim was in the offices of the Barcelona board this morning and it was speculated to be for transfer reasons. Now, it has been confirmed that it was for a private discussion to transfer Alcacer to the Azulgranas.
Nothing official has been announced yet and the fee and other details of the transfer are still unclear. SPORT state that Alcacer has said ‘YES’ to Barça and has personally agreed to sign for five seasons, pending final agreement between both clubs. According to SPORT, the deal could cost Barça €25 million+the one year loan of newly promoted 21-year old midfielder Sergi Samper. Mundo Deportivo reported that it could be Munir El Haddadi who will go the other way.
Alcacer has a release clause of €80 million and Valencia have previously considered their homegrown Captain as nontransferable but the close relationship with Barcelona could facilitate an easier agreement. The club have already signed Andre Gomes from Valencia this season and it seems Alcacer will be the second player to move from the white shirt of Valencia to the red and blue of FC Barcelona.
Alcacer knows he will have limited number of minutes at Barça, and the deal looks very unlikely if looked from a normal stance, but he is willing to take up the role as fourth striker behind Messi, Neymar and Suarez and will fight for his place whilst taking chances when he’s given one. Villarreal were interested in the player but with Barça joining the race, he has accepted the offer from the Catalans. Final negotiations being carried out.
If Alcacer signs for Barça, he will become the fifth FC Barcelona signing of the summer, and the fifth 22-year old to join the club this summer which is amazing.