Chelsea close in on season-long loan deal for United reject Falcao
CHELSEA are set to hand Manchester United reject Falcao the chance to revive his career with the Premier League champions by signing the 29-year-old on a season-long loan.
The Blues are believed to be close to clinching a deal for the formerly prolific Monaco and Colombia striker as they prepare to tinker with their attacking options for next season.
Falcao’s arrival raises further questions over the Stamford Bridge future of France forward Loic Remy, who has been linked with West Ham and Crystal Palace.
The departure of veteran Didier Drogba on a free transfer has already left Chelsea a man light, so Remy’s exit could prompt Jose Mourinho to sign another forward, such as Queens Park Rangers’ Charlie Austin.
United declined to take up an option to buy Falcao for around £43m at the end of last season after he scored just four times in 29 matches for Louis van Gaal’s developing side.
He scored 36 in 93 at Argentina’s River Plate, earning a move to Europe, where he shot to prominence with 72 goals in 87 appearances for Porto. He was similarly effective for Atletico Madrid, scoring 70 in 90 and prompting then-flush Monaco to splash out £50m in 2013. He hit 13 in 22 in France before joining United in September.
“For a player of his level and quality, it’s a real shame that people in England think Falcao is the player who was at Manchester United,” Mourinho, who shares an agent with the player, said last week.
“I don’t have a close relationship with him, but it hurts me because he’s a great player. If there’s any way for me to help the English people to get to know the real Falcao, that would give me pleasure.”