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Chelsea rumours: Spain striker Paco Alcacer scouted at Valencia

| 18.10.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | October 18, 2015

Blues run rule over Bats poacher Paco

Soccer - La Liga - Real Madrid v Valencia - Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Chelsea, 16/1 shots with Coral to successfully defend the Premier League title, have sent scouts to watch Valencia and Spain striker Paco Alcacer, according to Sunday tabloids.

A product of the Mestalla academy, 22-year-old Paco was the reigning European champions’ top scorer in Euro 2016 qualifying with five in eight outings. Highly-rated by La Roja, Blues boss Jose Mourinho is mulling over making a £50m January bid for him to bolster the Stamford Bridge frontline.

Regarded as the most exciting attacking talent at Los Che since Juan Mata, David Silva and David Villa strutted their stuff at the Mestalla, diminutive frontman Paco has just the one goal at club level this term.

Given his low centre of gravity and ability to play up front or in behind as a number 10, comparisons have already been made between Paco and Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez. Read some fascinating facts about the soon to retire forward.

Chelsea could pair Paco and Pedro or Costa

Brazil Soccer WCup Spain

A number of Spain internationals, including fellow forwards Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez, could also become club teammates of Paco should this apparent interest in him be firmed up during the winter window.

Mourinho previously poached the best talent from Portugal, particularly during his first spell in charge of Chelsea, but last season’s captures of Costa and Cesc Fabregas were followed up this summer by the Blues gazumping Manchester United’s pursuit of Pedro.

Spanish sensations have been en vogue for much of the last decade, with a hugely successful time for La Liga beginning by Barcelona beating Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final and three other titles followed.

The Catalan giants’ relative dominance of European club football was supplemented by La Roja claiming three international tournaments on the spin (Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012), sweeping aside all-comers with tiki-taka football in its pomp.

Paco is La Roja future

Soccer - International Friendly - Spain v Costa Rica - Reino de Leon Stadium

Spain’s shock slump in their bid to defend the World Cup in 2014 signalled the end of an era, and national coach Vicente del Bosque made bold changes in reaction to their group stage exit.

Paco’s promotion from La Roja’s youth side was one of those alterations, and he has rewarded his country with six goals in just 10 senior caps to date.

Chelsea supporters should get a closer look at what he can do when England play Spain in Alicante during the next international break in November, as Roy Hodgson’s men begin their preparations for the Euro 2016 tournament finals.

Related

Check out our Chelsea archives.
Why not take a look at our Spain stories?
Read more about Valencia.

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Author

Jamie Clark

Athletics aficionado, die-hard snooker fan and Crystal Palace supporter Jamie has written for Coral since February 2014 after spells with Soccerlens and the Press Association as a digital journalist and copywriter. A former East Midlands sports correspondent and Bwin tipster, he is a graduate of both the University of York and University of Sheffield, with a Masters in web journalism from the latter.