Valencia CF have signed Italian forward Francesco Tavano from Empoli FC on a four-year contract as they bid to strengthen their strike force.

Salzburg test
The 27-year-old joins the Primera División outfit for reported fee of €8m having scored 19 league goals in each of the last two seasons, the first of which saw Empoli win Serie B. He was second only to ACF Fiorentina's Luca Toni in the top scorers' table last term and becomes Valencia's third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Fernando Morientes and Asier Del Horno. Tavano will not be eligible as Valencia look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against FC Salzburg in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.