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Radamel Falcao joins Chelsea: Blues announce season-long loan of former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker

Falcao joins from Monaco after United chose not to sign him on a permanent deal

Jack de Menezes

Friday 03 July 2015 14:52 BST

Chelsea have signed Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan (Getty Images)

Chelsea have confirmed the season-long loan for Radamel Falcao, with the Monaco striker making a swift return to the Premier League following his dismal spell with Manchester United.

Falcao was a deadline day signing for United last summer, but despite his high-profile arrival exciting fans not just of the Manchester club but of the Premier League as a whole, he only served to disappoint after scoring four goals in 2014/15.

Untied chose not to take up a £43.2m clause in his contract that would have seen the loan move made permanent, but it soon emerged that Chelsea were considering making a shock move for the Colombia striker.

The potential biggest transfers of the summer

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1/9The potential biggest transfers of the summer

The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Theo Walcott

There is real uncertainty around the future of Theo Walcott with prolonged contract talks looking likely. Arsene Wenger told the press that the winger was a tough customer to negotiate with and when the player tweeted in March that talks were yet to begin (something that contradicted the club) it signalled what could be the beginning of the end of Walcott's Arsenal career. The England international will have a year to run on his contract this summer and if no new deal can be found he will probably be sold. Liverpool have emerged as the leading contenders for his signature, whilst Chelsea are also rumoured to be keeping tabs on the situation aware that there could be a bargain to be had due to his dwindling contract.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Raheem Sterling

Another England international seemingly destined to change his environment is Raheem Sterling. Liverpool are ready to pay the 20-year-old huge wages but it seems the Jamaican born player has said money is not the problem. It seems he wants to be winning trophies and playing in the Champions League - something that is far from guaranteed at Anfield. Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are all monitoring the situation whilst moving abroad could be an option, with both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid linked. If Liverpool are unable to reach a compromise over a new deal, it's thought they'd rather sell this summer than give the player the initiative by letting him run his contract down to just one year to go in 2016.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Paul Pogba

Having left Manchester United for Juventus in 2012, France international Pogba has gone on to become arguably the best young player in Europe and now United want him back. But they're not the only ones interested in the 22-year-old. His contract in Turin runs until the summer of 2019 which means any move would be among most expensive in history, but that's not stopped the liked of Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG, Arsenal and Chelsea being linked. Juventus have said if the player wants to go, he can, but they're confident he will remain.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Marco Reus

Speculation has surrounded the pacey Germany international for the past few windows but when he signed a new contract at Borussia Dortmund earlier this year, it looked to be the end of it. But with Jurgen Klopp's side struggling this season and European football out of the question next term, rumours have begun to resurface. With Theo Walcott possibly leaving Arsenal, the Gunners have reportedly made the 25-year-old their No 1 target to replace him. If it becomes apparent Dortmund are ready to do business, many other clubs will be making their interest known.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Gareth Bale

Bale wants to stay at Real Madrid, but his second season at the Bernabeu hasn't been easy. The former Spurs player has been picked out as the chief culprit for all the club's problems at the start of 2015, with his selfish style of play and habit of going missing being picked on for criticism. The mood in Madrid changes like a flag in the wind according to his team-mate Toni Kroos and it's quite possible he'll be the darling of the Spanish capital again, but Real Madrid aren't afraid to let big name players depart and would be able to command a huge fee for Bale to help balance the books. Manchester United will lead the pursuit.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Petr Cech

Despite a near faultless 10 years between the sticks at Stamford Bridge, in his eleventh season as a Chelsea player he found himself demoted behind the prodigious talent that is Thibaut Courtois. The Czech international has proved willing to put up with the situation this season but has already said he won't stand for sitting on the bench next term. Arsenal are among the clubs most regularly linked, however Chelsea would be reluctant to let the keeper, who will be 33 in the summer, leave for a rival. Roma, Napoli and Real Madrid have been mentioned as alternative destinations.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Angel Di Maria

He might have only arrived at Old Trafford last summer and have cost a British record £59.7m, but Angel Di Maria has been woeful in his debut season. With few of his passes finding their desired target it's thought Louis van Gaal could cut his losses and use whatever fee can be commanded to reinvest in players who fit more seamlessly into the Dutchman's system. Paris St Germain would be the first in line of a long queue keen to sign the Argentina international.

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The potential biggest transfers of the summer

David De Gea

Real Madrid could bid for David De Gea in the next week in the hope of completing a transfer before they embark on their pre-season tour of Australia, with Manchester United already sounding out possible replacements.

Getty Images

The potential biggest transfers of the summer

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos is wanted by Manchester United, who have already seen one bid rejected by Real Madrid. However, with the Spaniard believed to be keen on a move this summer, United appear to be the favourites to sign the World Cup winner.

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The Blues confirmed the news on Friday afternoon, and Falcao admitted he is “very happy” to have signed for Jose Mourinho’s side and has set his sights on winning his first Premier League title.

“I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can't wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe,” Falcao said on chelseafc.com.

Having suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out of the 2014 World Cup, Falcao returned to action in the pre-season for 2014/14, scoring for Monaco against Arsenal in the Emirates Cup.

Two goals in three games suggested that he was regaining full fitness, and United mounted a deadline day deal to sign him in September 2014, but the move proved to be a disappointing one as he scored just four times in all competitions for Louis van Gaal's side.

Falcao is on holiday after Copa America duty (GETTY IMAGES)

Having received the news that United would not be signing him permanently, Falcao led his Colombia into the Copa America tournament, where the World Cup quarter-finalists only made the same stage where they were knocked out by Argentina. He failed to score in any of their four matches, though found the net with his penalty in the shootout defeat to their South American rivals.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appeared to confirm his interest in Falcao earlier this summer, when he admitted the would love the chance to bring the "real Falcao" to the Premier League, perhaps in a taunt to his old rival Van Gaal that he can get the best out of the forward where the Dutchman could not.

"If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it," Mourinho told South American TV.

"It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United."

Falcao will joins up with the rest of the Chelsea squad on 19 July in Montreal, where the club's pre-season tour will get underway four days earlier, due to his current holiday that he is being afforded after Copa America duty.

He'll find himself in familiar surroundings however, given that he played alongside Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid, while his international colleague Juan Cuadrado looks set to remain at Stamford Bridge despite links with a move back to mainland Europe.

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