La Liga boss wants to rescue Roberto Soldado from his Tottenham purgatory

For a guy who hasn't really done much at his current club (not for lack of trying), Roberto Soldado sure seems to be a wanted man. Today, in quotes given to MARCA and reprinted at ESPN, Villarreal manager Marcelino pretty much confirmed that he's interested in signing the misfiring Tottenham striker.

"He is a footballer who is very capable. The fact that he has lacked regular playing time and has not had the confidence of his team in the past two seasons may have affected his performances.

But it's difficult for one who has always scored goals to forget how to do so. We want strikers that can increase the team level and can add more competitiveness to our group."

It must not be fun to be Roberto Soldado right now. He's been made available for sale after struggling mightily during his years at Tottenham Hotspur, and this after being a flat-out star at Valencia. But if you're like me, you really like Roberto and hope he lands on his feet. Villarreal would be a return home to Spain, the place where he played his best football, and while it's not under the circumstances that I'm sure he'd want, it would be a good place to get a fresh start. These are pretty wonderful comments from Marcelino, and hopefully it leads to something.

Bobby Soldier's been lined to at least five clubs in this offseason: AC Milan, Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, Sevilla, and now Villarreal. The fact that he was spotted on a plane to Ibiza instead of joining the team in Denver for the MLS All-Star Game indicates that he's probably gone this summer.

Speculation is now settling on Villarreal and the aforementioned Sevilla as the most likely destinations for Soldado. Spurs are said to want at least £12m for his services.