Manchester United have landed the mother of all deadline deals. The struggling
Old Trafford club have agreed a season-long loan deal for Monaco striker
Radamel Falcao with the move subject to the player passing a medical and
agreeing personal terms. The Colombian was also being chased by United’s rivals
Manchester City and Arsenal with Real Madrid and Juventus also linked.
Signed by Monaco from Atletico
Madrid for £50 million in 2013, Falcao managed to score 11 goals in 19
appearances across all competitions before suffering an anterior cruciate
ligament injury in January that ruled him out of the World Cup. The 28-year old
striker only returned to action this July but was made available for a loan
transfer by the French principality as deadline day loomed.
Despite Real Madrid being tipped
as favourites to land Falcao, United swooped in early on deadline day to sign
the striker on loan for a reported fee of £6 million. The Red Devils have
managed a measly two goals in 3 league games while picking up 2 points to mark
their worst start to the season since 2007. Manager Louis Van Gaal has
reportedly sanctioned the sales of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez and has
boosted his already overloaded attack with the purchase of Falcao. Welbeck
looks set to join Tottenham on a season long loan deal, while Hernandez is
heading to Real Madrid on a similar arrangement, though Los Blancos are
believed to have the option to make the move permanent.
The news also suggests that
rumours of Robin van Persie requiring knee surgery
could well be accurate, though in the interim Wayne Rooney could well be asked
to drop into a deeper role in midfield.
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