Roberto Soldado: Tottenham agree £26m deal for Valencia striker

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club record £26m deal to sign Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.

He will sign a four-year contract to become Spurs' third summer signing once a medical is completed on Friday.

Soldado, 28, who has 11 caps for Spain, scored 30 goals in 46 appearances for the La Liga club last season.

A Spurs statement said: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Roberto Soldado."

The club's previous transfer record was the signing of midfielder Paulinho from Corinthians for nearly £17m earlier this summer. Spurs have also added winger Nacer Chadli from FC Twente for a fee thought to be around £7m.

Soldado was born in Valencia but began his career at Real Madrid, scoring 63 goals in 120 league appearances for their B side, Real Madrid Castilla.

He joined his hometown club three years ago after a spell at Getafe and has scored 80 goals in 146 appearances for Valencia.

Soldado has also become an established member of the Spanish national squad and helped his country to the runners-up spot at this summer's Confederations Cup.

His arrival will boost a forward line that has only Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor as recognised first-team centre-forwards.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says his club are in talks to sign Tottenham forward Gareth Bale, with reports suggesting they are prepared to pay an £80m world record fee.

However, Soldado hopes to play alongside Bale and form a partnership with the Wales international.

Soldado told AS: "Bale is a great footballer and you can see the effort Tottenham are making to prevent him from leaving. Of course I want him to stay."