Chelsea have been told they will have to stump up £80 million or offer one of Fernando Torres and Demba Ba in part-exchange if they want to sign Radamel Falcao, according to the Daily Star. We reported yesterday that the 27-year-old has asked his club AS Monaco to let him leave on loan in the New Year, just four months after joining from Atletico Madrid. That is because he is unhappy with his current contract, which sees him earn 7 million-a-year after tax rather than the 14 million originally agreed as part of his transfer. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance to watch Falcao in action for his native Colombia in their 2-0 friendly win over Belgium last month, and had been hoping to secure his services on a 6-month deal. However, the French side are not prepared to let the forward leave on a temporary basis and have instead demanded the Blues cough up the eye-watering sum if they are serious. The Ligue 1 club have slapped an £80 million price tag on Falcao, but could be tempted into selling for less if one of Torres or Ba is thrown into the deal. Torres and Ba have struggled to make much of an impact this season, having scored just two league goals between them, and Mourinho could be prepared to let one leave as he reshuffles his pack up front. Real Madrid are also interested in Falcao and will rival Chelsea's bid to bring him to the Premier League when the winter transfer window opens in just over three weeks.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
