Liverpool favourites to sign young Valencia striker

Liverpool have been linked with a move for young Valencia forward Paco Alcacer in the local Spanish press.

Valencia newspaper Superdeporte claims that the Reds have sent scouts to watch a number of Alcacer's games, and though Real Madrid and Barcelona are also interested, a bid from Liverpool appears most likely.

One of the greatest legacies of the Rafa Benitez reign as Liverpool manager is his overhaul of the club's academy.

"The progress at the Academy in the last year and a half has been absolutely fantastic," said current boss Kenny Dalglish.

"That's great credit to Rafa [Benitez] who brought in Pepe Segura, Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland. He reorganised the whole Academy and you can see the benefit in the kids now. It's fantastic to see."

The 17 year-old Alcacer made his first team debut for Valencia earlier this season, and has scored 15 goals in 13 games for Spain's U17 side.

He now has 2 in 2 for the U18s, and could become part of the revolution on Merseyside, joining fellow Spaniards Suso, Dani Pacheco, Dani Ayala and Emmanuel Mendy.

However, his contract expires in 2013, and Liverpool are highly unlikely to pay his €10m release clause.

Source: Caughtoffside

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