Radamel Falcao to Chelsea: Colombian striker prepared to take significant pay-cut as he's 'desperate' to return to the Premier League

Falcao left Manchester United after scoring just four goals this season but could return to the Premier League in the summer

Radamel Falcao waves goodbye to the Manchester United fans (Getty Images)

No sooner than leaving Manchester United after a dismal season, Radamel Falcao could be on his way back to the Premier League to join champions Chelsea.

Despite scoring just four goals for United – which came at an eye-watering £3.95m each – Falcao is being linked with a move to Chelsea to replace Didier Drogba after the Ivory Coast striker announced he is leaving the club ahead of an expected move to the MLS.

The Telegraph reports that Falcao has emerged as a shock candidate on the Blues radar this summer, though he will have to be prepared to take a large pay cut from his £265,000-a-week wages he receives at Monaco.

However, it’s believed that the Colombia international is so desperate to secure a move to Stamford Bridge and prove that he can cut it in the Premier League that he is prepared to slash his wages, and the fact that Falcao shares his agent Jorge Mendes with Jose Mourinho can only help to secure a move.

Chelsea hold the bargaining power against Falcao given that the PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard, who has performed to a significantly higher level than Falcao this season, is currently on a £200,000-a-week deal that he signed earlier this season, and any chance of earning more than the Belgian winger would be highly unlikely.

It’s still not a given that Mourinho will want to move for the 29-year-old once the transfer window reopens though. The perception is that Falcao’s knee injury, which ruled him out of the 2014 World Cup, has clearly had a detrimental effect on his form and while he has not suffered another long-term injury since, there remains doubts over his fitness.

Falcao waves goodbye to the United fans (Getty Images)

The move could depend on Falcao’s performances for his country in this summer’s Copa America, though one Chelsea star is already in danger of missing Colombia’s campaign after Juan Cuadrado limped out of the final day win over Sunderland.