Barcelona are on the verge of completing a reported 30 million euro ($33.57 million) move for Spain international Paco Alcacer from Valencia after the striker arrived for a medical with the La Liga champions on Monday.
The
Spaniard was excluded from the Valencia squad that lost 1-0 at Eibar on
Saturday, with coach Pako Ayesteran telling reporters, "Today he was not in the ideal situation to compete."
According
to Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Alcacer will sign a
five-year contract later on Monday before reporting for international
duty with Spain at their Las Rozas training camp in Madrid.
Alcacer, who
turns 23 on Tuesday, came through the ranks at Valencia and made his
debut in 2010, although he spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Getafe.
He
scored 25 La Liga goals in 51 starts in the last two seasons at
Valencia and was Spain's top scorer in their Euro 2016 qualifying
campaign with five goals but excluded from the squad for the final
tournament.
The signing of Alcacer signals an end
to a summer-long search by the La Liga champions to supplement their
feted frontline of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, who netted a
combined 131 goals in all competitions last season.
Barca
had hoped to sign Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla before they were beaten to
the Frenchman's signature by Atletico Madrid, and failed to land
Argentine forward Luciano Vietto, who joined Sevilla on loan instead.
Should the move go through, Alcacer will become the fourth Barcelona player to join from Valencia in the last four years.
Defender
Jordi Alba made the move in 2012, Jeremy Matheiu signed in 2014 and
attacking midfielder Andre Gomes, a Euro 2016 winner with Portugal,
joined Barcelona in July for 35 million euros.
($1 = 0.8937 euros)
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