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Cashed-up Monaco's next move for Radomel Falcao will signal frenzied big-money race for summer signings
The sight of the Porto pair James Rodríguez and Joao Moutinho arriving in Monaco and signing for the cash-rich French club for a combined fee of £60 million could spark one of the most intense summers of transfer activity in European football. Never before have so many big-name deals been mooted.
In demand: Radomel Falcao Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Jason Burt, Football Corespondent
11:59PM BST 25 May 2013
Given Monaco, backed by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, are confident that they will also sign Radomel Falcao from Atlético Madrid, then it will not only be a huge statement of intent from the club newly promoted to Ligue 1 but a sign of how much money might be pumped through the transfer market.
Falcao, who has interested Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City, has a £48 million buy-out clause and has been demanding a salary of £5 million a year net of tax.
Monaco’s tax-haven status is helping to attract top-of-the-range players such as James and Moutinho - both previously wanted by Tottenham Hotspur - and is annoying other French clubs, not least Paris St-Germain, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, who are also set for another ambitious summer of spending.
Quite where all this sits with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules is puzzling, but several of Europe’s leading clubs are gearing themselves for a hectic window and, as with James and Falcao, strikers are most in demand.
Indeed back in London, following Saturday night's Champions League final, Bayern Munich cranked up their attempts to ensure that when Robert Lewandowski leaves Borussia Dortmund, the Polish striker remains in Germany rather than join Manchester United or Chelsea. The courting went as far as to cheekily invite Lewandowski’s agents to Bayern’s post-final party at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London.
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A managerial merry-go-round is in full swing with changes at many of those clubs, led by Pep Guardiola’s impending arrival at Bayern, Jose Mourinho quitting Real Madrid for Chelsea and Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement at Manchester United. But it is also set to be the summer of the striker.
In Italy, Juventus have already made their move and have held talks to finally acquire Gonzalo Higuain, who is keen to leave Madrid. Juve will not stop there and have again resurrected their interest in Carlos Tevez, who has just a year left on his contract at City.
Talks will take place with City next week over the striker’s future, although he would prefer to return to Argentina - and to Boca Juniors - should he leave the Premier League.
City’s impending acquisition of Cavani will be partly funded by the hoped for sale of Edin Dzeko, who has been surplus to requirements at the club for some time. Despite his struggles at City, the Bosnian is highly regarded and Napoli, who have floated the idea of Dzeko plus cash for Cavani, are not the only suitors.
Despite the declaration of City chief executive Ferran Soriano that he will definitely stay, the club may have to fight to keep Sergio Aguero. Real Madrid are interested in him as they reshape their squad for the post-Mourinho era, while there is increasing talk that Cristiano Ronaldo may also leave the Bernabeu.
Chelsea expressed their interest last year in Ronaldo, when it emerged that there was a Spanish-Portuguese schism in the Real dressing room, and he would be in the market this time around, although there are conflicting accounts of the strength of the player’s relationship with Mourinho. That could open the way for PSG to make their move.
The uncertainty at Barcelona could also increase. It remains to be seen whether Tito Vilanova, as he battles throat cancer, can carry on as the club’s coach. Barcelona have continued their long, drawn-out courtship of another striker, the Brazilian Neymar, and it appears a bid has finally gone in to his club Santos.
Chelsea must also decide what to do with Fernando Torres, the £45 million man whose form has improved this past season but has yet to recapture his form at Liverpool. The club may finally cut their losses on the striker, who would not appear a natural favourite of a coach such as Mourinho, especially if they can land their other targets.
The sight of the Porto pair James Rodríguez and Joao Moutinho arriving in Monaco and signing for the cash-rich French club for a combined fee of £60 million could spark one of the most intense summers of transfer activity in European football. Never before have so many big-name deals been mooted.
In demand: Radomel Falcao Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Jason Burt, Football Corespondent
11:59PM BST 25 May 2013
Given Monaco, backed by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, are confident that they will also sign Radomel Falcao from Atlético Madrid, then it will not only be a huge statement of intent from the club newly promoted to Ligue 1 but a sign of how much money might be pumped through the transfer market.
Falcao, who has interested Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City, has a £48 million buy-out clause and has been demanding a salary of £5 million a year net of tax.
Monaco’s tax-haven status is helping to attract top-of-the-range players such as James and Moutinho - both previously wanted by Tottenham Hotspur - and is annoying other French clubs, not least Paris St-Germain, backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, who are also set for another ambitious summer of spending.
Quite where all this sits with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules is puzzling, but several of Europe’s leading clubs are gearing themselves for a hectic window and, as with James and Falcao, strikers are most in demand.
Indeed back in London, following Saturday night's Champions League final, Bayern Munich cranked up their attempts to ensure that when Robert Lewandowski leaves Borussia Dortmund, the Polish striker remains in Germany rather than join Manchester United or Chelsea. The courting went as far as to cheekily invite Lewandowski’s agents to Bayern’s post-final party at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London.
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A managerial merry-go-round is in full swing with changes at many of those clubs, led by Pep Guardiola’s impending arrival at Bayern, Jose Mourinho quitting Real Madrid for Chelsea and Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement at Manchester United. But it is also set to be the summer of the striker.
In Italy, Juventus have already made their move and have held talks to finally acquire Gonzalo Higuain, who is keen to leave Madrid. Juve will not stop there and have again resurrected their interest in Carlos Tevez, who has just a year left on his contract at City.
Talks will take place with City next week over the striker’s future, although he would prefer to return to Argentina - and to Boca Juniors - should he leave the Premier League.
City’s impending acquisition of Cavani will be partly funded by the hoped for sale of Edin Dzeko, who has been surplus to requirements at the club for some time. Despite his struggles at City, the Bosnian is highly regarded and Napoli, who have floated the idea of Dzeko plus cash for Cavani, are not the only suitors.
Despite the declaration of City chief executive Ferran Soriano that he will definitely stay, the club may have to fight to keep Sergio Aguero. Real Madrid are interested in him as they reshape their squad for the post-Mourinho era, while there is increasing talk that Cristiano Ronaldo may also leave the Bernabeu.
Chelsea expressed their interest last year in Ronaldo, when it emerged that there was a Spanish-Portuguese schism in the Real dressing room, and he would be in the market this time around, although there are conflicting accounts of the strength of the player’s relationship with Mourinho. That could open the way for PSG to make their move.
The uncertainty at Barcelona could also increase. It remains to be seen whether Tito Vilanova, as he battles throat cancer, can carry on as the club’s coach. Barcelona have continued their long, drawn-out courtship of another striker, the Brazilian Neymar, and it appears a bid has finally gone in to his club Santos.
Chelsea must also decide what to do with Fernando Torres, the £45 million man whose form has improved this past season but has yet to recapture his form at Liverpool. The club may finally cut their losses on the striker, who would not appear a natural favourite of a coach such as Mourinho, especially if they can land their other targets.
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