Middlesbrough line up shock move for flop Radamel Falcao
Colombian hitman aims to make it third time lucky in the Premier League with Boro chairman Steve Gibson looking to take advantage of relationship with star's agent Jorge Mendes
MIDDLESBROUGH are eyeing a shock move for Radamel Falcao.
According to , the newly-promoted Teesside club are interested in an ambitious move for the Colombian striker who failed to hit the heights expected of him at Chelsea and Manchester United.
Falcao played just 36 games in his two Prem loan stints, netting five times.
But the hitman – who has cost clubs over a £100million in loan and transfer fees – never truly got a run of games at either Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge following the knee ligament injury that caused him to miss six months of action prior to his mega money loan move to United.
It is now believed that Boro have been alerted to his availability, with Falcao keen to prove that he can bang in goals in English football’s top flight.
Boro have one major factor in their favour too, with chairman Steve Gibson believed to have an excellent relationship with Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes.
Monaco netted Falcao from Atletico Madrid for a monster £51m in 2013 but he suffered a major setback when his knee injury ruled him out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
And he also missed out on his country’s Copa America squad after Colombia boss Jose Pekerman decided to leave out ‘El Tigre’ due to his lack of goals and playing time.
And he has now gone on holiday with his wife as he mulls over his next move.
Boro are back in the Premier League for the first time in seven years after finishing second in the Championship last season.
And they are no strangers to bringing some of South America’s most colourful stars to the Riverside, with Gibson proving persuasive in his ability to lure the big names.
They have previously signed one Colombian, with Hamilton Ricard arriving in a £2m move from Deportivo Cali in 1998 before going on to net 43 times in 132 appearances throughout his four-year stay in the North-East.
But it was Brazilian star Juninho who really got fans on their feet as the World Cup ace arrived in 1995 - the last time that the club were promoted to the Prem.
Former boss Bryan Robson had some serious cash to splash and also brought in shaggy-haired midfielder Emerson to play alongside Juninho in midfield.
And that did not stop him continuing with his spree the following season when he signed Champions League winner and Italy international Fabrizio Ravanelli from Juventus.