United seal late Falcao swoop

Manchester United have completed the signing of Monaco striker RadamelFalcao on a one-year loan deal with an option to make the switch permanent, according to FIFA.com.

News of the Colombian’s move to Old Trafford had begun to surface early on transfer deadline day but it was not until the early hours of Tuesday morning that the Red Devils announced they had got the deal over the line.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce that RadamelFalcao has joined the club on a one-year loan deal from AS Monaco, with an option to buy at the end of the loan period,” read a United statement.

The signing of Falcao was the final chapter in a busy day for United with strikers Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck both leaving the club for Real Madrid and Arsenal respectively.

The loan fee for Falcao was thought to be between £5million and £6million and the 28-year-old joined Daley Blind in moving to Manchester on Monday.

“I am delighted Radamel has joined us on loan this season,” said United boss Louis van Gaal. “He is one of the most prolific goal scorers in the game.

“His appearance-to-goal ratio speaks for itself and, when a player of this calibre becomes available, it is an opportunity not to be missed.”

Prolific record

Falcao first came to prominence at Argentinian outfit River Plate and earned himself a move to Europe with Porto where he scored 72 goals in 87 appearances. He continued that prolific form at Atletico Madrid, netting 70 goals in 91 appearances and earning a big-money move to Monaco last summer.

Falcao suffered a serious knee injury in January 2014 which forced him to miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ but he is now looking to play a big part in the new Van Gaal era at Old Trafford,

“I am delighted to be joining Manchester United on loan this season,” he said. “Manchester United is the biggest club in the world and is clearly determined to get back to the top.

“I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal and contributing to the team’s success at this very exciting period in the club’s history.”

Blind ambition

Van Gaal will hope he can kick-start a stuttering beginning to the season which has seen United take just two points from three Premier League matches, scoring only two goals, without even taking into account their embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to League One MK Dons.

Van Gaal also needed reinforcements in defence after the loss of key personnel over the summer and they confirmed £14million Ajax defender Danny Blind had signed a four-year contract.

“Louis van Gaal is a tremendously talented coach, I have worked with him at Ajax and also for the Netherlands national team and I cannot wait to work with him at the biggest club in the world,” the Holland international told manutd.com.

United’s rebuilding has already seen them acquire midfielder Ander Herrera, defenders Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo and British-record signing Angel di Maria.

Tom Cleverley looked to be moving to Aston Villa and then his preferred destination of Everton but the latter could not meet United’s asking price.

However, United duo Nick Powell and Tom Lawrence both moved to Leicester on loan and permanent deals respectively while Michael Keane joined Burnley on a four-month temporary deal.

M.D