Alvaro Morata is set to sign for Man United but how have other Spanish strikers fared in the Premier League?

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  • Manchester United are closing in on the £64 million signing of Real Madrid frontman Alvaro Morata with a four-year deal close to completion.

    The 24-year-old will join a whole host of Spanish stars to have made the move to the Premier League but will he make an impact at Old Trafford?

    We take a look at three fellow Spanish strikers who were a hit in England and three who were a miss.

    HITS

    FERNANDO TORRES: Liverpool 2007/11 – £20.3 million

    Bought for a then club record fee of £20.3 million in 2007 from Atletico Madrid, Torres quickly took to the hearts of Anfield with a sensational debut season.

    He scored 33 times in 46 games as he struck up a telepathic partnership with captain Steven Gerrard.

    His following two seasons were punctured by injuries, restricting him to 38 and 32 appearances respectively but he still plundered 39 goals in both.

    Rafa Benitez’s departure coupled with a series of broken promises led to his exit in January 2011 as he left for Chelsea in a £50 million deal.

    DIEGO COSTA: Chelsea 2014/ – £32 million

    The Brazilian-born Chelsea striker qualifies as he is a Spain international and he joins Torres as another successful import from Atletico Madrid

    Costa signed for £32 million in 2014 and in just three years he has two Premier League winner’s medals and has League Cup glory to boot as well.

    He scored 20 league goals in 26 appearances in his debut campaign as his provocative but predatory prowess made him a nightmare to defend against.

    Jose Mourinho’s demise mirrored his own in the following season as he scored just 12 times in the league but he was outstanding for much of Chelsea’s renaissance and ascension to the domestic crown under Antonio Conte as he notched 20 goals.

    MICHU: Swansea 2012/15 – £2 million

    Gary Lineker described the striker’s £2 million move from Rayo Vallecano to Swansea in 2012 as the “bargain of the century” as his exploits in South Wales once saw him attract interest from the Premier League’s heavy hitters.

    The Spaniard scored 22 goals in 43 games in his first to help lift Swansea into ninth in the league while also guiding them to the first piece of silverware in their history as they claimed the League Cup with a win over Bradford.

    He started the second season impressively scoring goals in the league and in the Europa League but after making his Spain debut he returned to the Swans injured and his career derailed from there.

    Injuries restricted him to just 24 games in all competitions and he was subsequently loaned to Napoli the following season where he turned out only six times as more injury woe reigned over his spell. The 31-year-old is now plying his trade in the Spanish second division with Oviedo.

    MISSES

    FERNANDO TORRES: Chelsea 2011/15 – £50 million

    A Jekyll and Hyde Premier League career sees Torres land on this list as his £50 million switch to Chelsea can be viewed as nothing but a flop – and maybe their worst ever given the exponential fee involved.

    He won trophies at Stamford Bridge with FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League success but he never recaptured the formidable form he displayed at Liverpool.

    In total, he scored 45 goals in 172 appearances for Chelsea which falls well short of 81 goals in 142 for the Reds. Scarred by persistent injury issues he was never the same threat at Chelsea.

    After four years he moved AC Milan on loan before returning to boyhood club Atletico Madrid where at 33 years old he is coming to the end of his career.

    ALBERT LUQUE: Newcastle 2005/07 – £9 million

    Newcastle’s 2005 summer spending will go down as a black mark in their history as in the same summer Michael Owen arrived for £17 million, so too did Luque for £9 million.

    His signing from Deportivo La Coruna was a mess on two parts. First, his dismal spell in the North East was investigated for payment irregularities and then he made only 21 appearances scoring just once, although that did come against rivals Sunderland in a 4-1 win.

    Despite operating as a centre forward on the left wing and in a left forward spot, Luque never lived up to his billing as a fast and talented striker and he was sold to Ajax for £2 million in 2007.

    He finished his career Malaga after he retired following his release from the Spanish club.

    ROBERTO SOLDADO: Tottenham 2013/15 – £26 million

    A lack of mental fortitude ultimately saw Soldado flop at Tottenham as he failed to live up to his hefty £26 million switch from Valencia.

    The Spaniard scored just 16 goals in 76 games with the North London club, a sharp downturn in form from the 82 times he scored in La Liga from 141 appearances.

    A vicious mix of glaring missed chances and managerial mistrust following Andre Villas Boas’ departure four months after his signature, saw him leave White Hart Lane after a disastrous two year spell.

    He has reinvented himself at Villarreal though as he become their chief creator since returning to La Liga in 2015.

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