United cut for title after swooping for Falcao
MANCHESTER UNITED were under pressure to do something big on transfer deadline day and delivered by snapping up Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from Monaco on a season-long loan.
It is a risky move given Falcao has spent much of the year recovering from a serious knee injury, but at his best the 28-year-old – a 16-1 chance for the Golden Boot – will add much-needed pace and goals to United’s attack.
Louis van Gaal has a selection headache to ponder with Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata competing for forward places but the widespread reaction was positive with United shortening from a best-priced 20-1 to 16-1 in the title betting.
Falcao is 6-4 with Ladbrokes to be United’s top league goalscorer and 8-11 to score more goals than Rooney.
Prior to last season Falcao had scored 24 or more league goals in three of the previous four campaigns but bet365 think he may need time to settle and go 5-6 he scores over 13.5 league goals and 5-6 he falls short.
Van Gaal can include Falcao for the first time when United host QPR on September 14.
United are 2-7 from 3-10 with bet365 to beat the Hoops and are 10-11 from 11-10 with Paddy Power for a top-four finish.
Falcao last completed a full 90 minutes in mid-January although he has started the season in good form for Monaco, scoring two goals in three appearances.
The move for Falcao allowed Javier Hernandez to make a switch to Real Madrid on a season-long loan, while Danny Welbeck was allowed to leave for Arsenal in a £16m deal.
