Arsenal Transfer News: Francisco Alcacer a Brilliant Target for Gunners

Following the news that Nicklas Bendtner intends to leave the Emirates this summer (as reported by Hannah Duncan of the Metro), Arsenal are once again in the market for offensive reinforcements.

One of the players Arsene Wenger has his eye on is Francisco Alcacer, according to The Daily Mail's David Kent. The 20-year old striker is enjoying a breakout season with Valencia, having scored 9 goals in 14 total appearances (per Whoscored).

The Spanish youth international was Valencia's natural heir to Roberto Soldado, who departed the club for Tottenham Hotspur last summer, and has really found his shooting boots since the winter break, as shared by Whoscored:

That excellent run for Alcacer, who spent last year on loan with Getafe, included the game-winner against Barcelona and a goal in the Europa League tie against Ludogorets Razgrad, showcasing his tendency to score in the biggest games.

Fans might be quick to point to Soldado and his struggles in his first season with Tottenham, but Alcacer and Soldado have little in common. The former Valencia striker thrives on his instincts in the box and made the move to the Premier League at the age of 28, at the very peak of his game.

Alcacer has the same nose for goals his predecessor had, but he's far more athletically gifted and does more damage with his movement and physical prowess. At 20 years of age, he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and he still has a lot of room to grow.

The youngster might not be the biggest name in world football right now, and the Gunners have been looking for a permanent answer up front as the likes of Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have failed to establish themselves as world-class strikers.

But as beIN Sports' Andres Cordero points out, it's not his play that has Alcacer flying under the radar:

Wenger has an excellent reputation when it comes to talent development, and Alcacer would give the Arsenal boss another raw but talented piece to work with.

His defensive work is impressive for a striker and shows a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, a trait the Gunners will surely appreciate.

Transfermarkt currently values Alcacer at £5.3 million, and while that figure is bound to rise as we draw closer to the summer transfer window, any deal close to that number has to be considered a major steal.

Alcacer shouldn't be the only target for the Gunners this summer, but as a building block for the future, he presents an excellent place to start. His star is rising fast, and people are starting to take notice:

The youngster looks like he has a bright future ahead of him, and at a mere £5.3 million, Arsenal should do whatever they can to bring the talent striker to the Emirates.