Goal-shy Premier League strugglers Southampton have approached Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer after another difficult La Liga campaign.
Paco Alcacer has spent two years struggling for first-team chances at Barcelona and it seems that is enough.
According to Catalan publication El Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish striker could opt to depart the Camp Nou this summer and he will not be short of offers. It is understood that there have been no direct offers yet for Alcacer, but plenty of clubs across Europe have made their interest known.
And one of those, El Mundo Deportivo claims, is Southampton.
The Saints have found goals very hard to come by throughout a dreadful season on the South Coast and, as it stands, they are third from bottom in the Premier League with just 29 strikes to their name in 31 games.
Charlie Austin remains the club’s top scorer despite only recently returning from three months on the sidelines.
But Alcacer, despite his lack of game time at Barcelona, has the poacher’s instinct and clinical finishing to make a huge impact at St Mary’s. He scored 24 goals in two La Liga seasons for Valencia before making that £30 million move to Barca in the summer of 2016 and has even managed nine goals in 13 starts for the Catalan giants since.
The report points out, however, that Southampton’s hopes of signing Alcacer, whose release clause is around £100 million, depend on their Premier League survival.
But a deal for the 24-year-old would be a long time coming, the Mirror claiming that they have been interested since as far back as October.
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