Prem trio among potential Falcao suitors
Falcao made a deadline-day move from Monaco on a season-long loan deal worth £6m last summer, with United given an option to make his stay permanent for the sum of £43.5m.
But having seen him score just four times in 22 matches so far this campaign, United are not expected to try and secure the extended services of a 29-year-old earning a reported £280,000 a week.
Falcao has admitted he “needs to play” and while his representative admits he could return to the Stade Louis II at the end of the season, he insists his client will not be short of offers from some of the world’s biggest teams.
But which other clubs might want want to take a chance on a man who was a prolific scorer for Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco before suffering a knee ligament injury 14 months ago? Here are five possible destinations for Falcao next season…
Liverpool
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers enquired about Falcao’s availability last summer as the Merseysiders sought a replacement up front for the recently departed Luis Suarez, only to be told the player had his heart set on a move to Real Madrid instead.
But according to reports in the English press, the Reds are set to re-ignite their interest in the Colombia forward, with Mario Balotelli’s ill-fated spell at the club due to be brought to a premature end this summer.
Rickie Lambert has also struggled to justify his move to Anfield, while Daniel Sturridge continues to be plagued by fitness worries, so Rodgers is sure to be in the market for attacking reinforcements next season.
Juventus
Juventus managing director Giuseppe Moratta revealed in October that the Serie A champions had been in talks to sign Falcao on loan last summer, before United came in to gazump them with a higher offer.
“We were following him and there was contact,” Marotta told RAI TV. “We were very close to (signing) Falcao and the player preferred Italy and our colours, but then United came forward and they have much more spending power than we do so the deal broke down.”
However, Juve do look set to buy a new striker next season with Carlos Tevez – who only has one year left on his current deal in Turin – unlikely to extend his contract and doubts continuing to grow over Fernando Llorente’s future at the club.
So could Falcao be on his way to the Old Lady of Italian football? Newspaper reports have claimed talks between the two parties have already taken place.
Chelsea
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is thought to be weighing up an end-of-season move for Falcao, at least if claims in the English press this week are to be believed.
Diego Costa may be the Premier League’s joint-top scorer at present after netting 19 times in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, but the striker’s ongoing hamstring problems have continued to curtail his appearances for the club.
Back-up forward Didier Drogba is now 37 and, were he to hang up his boots this summer, only Loic Remy would remain as senior support for Costa next term.
A loan swoop for Falcao could well be on the cards – especially given Mourinho and the Colombian share the same agent in Jorge Mendes.
Atletico Madrid
According to stories in the Spanish media, Falcao has his heart set on a return to former club Atletico Madrid.
Falcao spent two hugely successful campaigns at the Vicente Calderon, scoring an impressive 70 goals in just 90 appearances in all competitions for the club between 2011 and 2013.
And with Atleti forward Mario Mandzukic rumoured to be on his way out of the La Liga champions at the end of the season, coach Diego Simeone may be tempted to gamble on the 29-year-old in the belief he can reinvigorate his career like he has done with fellow frontman Fernando Torres.
Tottenham Hotspur
If Falcao is keen to remain in the Premier League next season, Tottenham could be a possible next port of call.
Spurs striker Harry Kane might – along with Costa – have netted 19 league goals this term, but there is little in attacking reserve behind the England international at White Hart Lane. Emmanuel Adebayor has once again been a bit-part player at the club this term and, with just a year left on his contract, is expected to leave north London this summer.
Fellow striker Roberto Soldado has scored just once in 18 league games and could also be offloaded.
If those two high earners do leave Tottenham, then there may be space available on the club’s wage bill for coach Mauricio Pochettino to try to entice his fellow South American to the Lane on a big-money contract.