Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is set to play for Chelsea in the 2015-16 English Premier League season barring any unforeseen hitch in the ongoing discussion between the Blues and AS Monaco.
ESPN FC, citing multiple sources, reported that Chelsea and AS Monaco have agreed to a one-year loan deal that would send Falcao to Stamford Bridge after failing to secure a permanent transfer to Manchester United.
The Sunday Times reported last weekend that Falcao's move to Chelsea is sealed, but the two clubs are still negotiating on whether to have a loan or permanent transfer.
Monaco were reportedly pushing for a permanent deal that will force Chelsea to pay the three years left on Falcao's contract, which he signed when he moved to the French club from Atletico Madrid in 2013.
But after a back-and-forth negotiation between the two clubs, Monaco eventually agreed to a loan deal. The Blues will pay £7 million with a £35 million buyout clause. The deal will reportedly be made official before weekend.
Falcao, who was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world before sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee in January 2014, failed to find his mark during his loan stint with Manchester United last season, scoring just four goals on top of four assists for the entire season.
But despite failing to live up to expectations, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho made it no secret that he wants Falcao at Stamford Bridge because he believes the 29-year-old is a much better player than what most fans are thinking based on how he performed at Old Trafford last season.
"It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "He played in Spain and Portugal and I know him very well because I was in Portugal and Spain. In Spain we were together when he was at Atletico and I was at Real and I know him very, very well."
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech will likely leave Chelsea this summer after failing to get enough opportunities to display his skills last season after falling behind Thibaut Courtois in the rotation.
According to ESPN, Cech has already met with Chelsea officials and informed them about his desire to leave. Sources said Cech wants to stay in London, and Arsenal will likely be his landing spot.
Click on this link for more Sports News & Updates from Christianity Daily.
