Villarreal throw Roberto Soldado a lifeline

Roberto Soldado is on the verge of moving back to Spain after Tottenham last night reached an agreement to sell the striker to Villarreal.

Soldado became Spurs’ most expensive signing when he moved to north London from Valencia for £26 million (€36 million) in August 2013.

But he scored just 16 goals in 76 appearances over the course of his two seasons at White Hart Lane and found himself below Harry Kane in the pecking order in the second half of last term.