Southampton made attempts to sign Paco Alcacer from Barcelona ‘a few months ago’ according to Mundo Deportivo, and the assumption is the Premier League club remain interested in the striker.
It’s not only Southampton who are keen on the bit part player, with Mundo Deportivo bringing French club Lille into the picture as well.
The Catalan newspaper point out any chance of a deal for either club could fall to pieces soon, with both sides struggling to keep their head above relegation.
Southampton are 18th in the Premier League, two points from safety, and Lille are also in the bottom three of France’s Ligue 1.
Neither side were expected to be in such a situation this campaign, and both will have had aspirations of being in the top half of the table.
Barcelona are said to be aware of the interest in Alcacer, and there are also clubs from La Liga keen. The stance on a transfer, as it has long been, seems to be that Barca would agree as long as a reasonable fee is put forward and the striker is keen.
Alcacer’s buyout clause is €100m, Barcelona would surely be looking for less than a third of that, maybe less than a quarter.
For Southampton, any chance is entirely dependent on survival.
