According to reports, Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Radamel Falcao in a temporary deal and will announce the transfer next week.
The Colombian international spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Manchester United, a move which was at the time considered to be one of the most exciting in recent years. But the striker failed to find anything like his best form during his time at Old Trafford, scoring just four goals, and the club decided against taking up the option to sign him on a permanent basis this year.
Falcao has since returned to Monaco where he remains under contract until the end of the 2017/18 campaign, but the French club are hoping to offload him before the new campaign begins. The Ligue 1 outfit would prefer to recoup some of the reported £51million they paid Atletico Madrid for his signature in 2013, but accept another loan deal is the more likely outcome.
Jose Mourinho remains a huge fan of the player, and has made no secret of his belief that he can help the usually prolific frontman rediscover his golden touch in front of goal. Speaking last week, the Stamford Bridge head coach said: “If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it. It hurts me that people in England think the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United.”
Reports in Portugal’s Record now claims that the Premier League champions have reached an agreement with Falcao to take him on loan for the duration of the 2015/16 season, presumably on the basis that he accepted a drop in his considerable salary. It is claimed that the deal will be announced next week, as Mourinho continues his preparations ahead of the new campaign.
Falcao will fill the void left in Chelsea’s first team plans by the departure of club legend Didier Drogba, and he will compete with last season’s top goalscorer Diego Costa for a place in the starting XI. It could also result in the departure of former Queens Park Rangers star Loic Remy, who has been linked with a move across the capital to join either Crystal Palace or West Ham United.
