According to respected Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague, Arsenal has put an end to their race in signing the much talked about Colombia and Monaco forward Radamel Falcao.
Monaco looks to get some cash from any club willing to sign their talismanic attacker on a season long loan deal.
Arsenal is reportedly to have declared the £20m required to secure the player’s service as too expensive.
The desperate need to get attacker is hinged on the injury of Olivier Giroud suffered in the 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park last week.
This would represent a massive blow to the teeming Arsenal fans that had been hopeful for something big to happen this deadline day, particularly for Falcao to sign for Arsenal.
The prolific Colombian striker, Radamel Falcao reportedly sent a come-get-me signal to North London club Arsenal sometime this summer and the player was said to have told Arsenal he is willing to make a move from Monaco to Arsenal on loan till the end of the season.
Speculations were agog in the media then that it would cost Arsenal £20m to land the player on loan, a fee which is inclusive of his wages and Monaco valuation of the deal.
This was initially met with some raised eyebrows because of the duration of the player’s stay.
A season long loan deal worth £20m could be demanded from a player of Falcao’s quality and reputation. However, the talk of Arsenal’s interest on the player grew with the player himself hinting at a move in the Emirates’ direction by following an Arsenal player Joel Campbell on social media platform, tweeter.
But then, Real Madrid, who this summer, signed the player’s compatriot and former teammate at Monaco, James Rodriguez, was also said to be keen on the player.
Afterwards the UEFA Champions League winners and Spanish giants, Real Madrid, who were then believed to be favourites to secure a loan deal for the Monaco attacker because of their financial strength, pulled out of the race according to Spanish Radio station Cadena COPE, leaving the ball in Arsenal’s court to arrange a loan deal for the former Atletico Madrid man.
Then English Premier League fierce rivals, Manchester City, who already has Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero in their fold, were said to be preparing a bid to bring the player on loan as their injured attacker Alvaro Negredo too would be sent out to a Spanish club for a loan deal.
This again posed a massive threat to the North London side, Arsenal.
Now, this Balague report, if true, would put to rest another very hopeful Arsenal signing that never comes to be.
Last summer, Gonzalo Higuain and Yann M’Villa were the most protracted stories linking to Arsenal and none of them ever became a player for the Emirates Stadium club.
Arsene Wenger who earlier said no other attacker would become a Gunner after Alexis Sanchez this summer, kept expressing his confidence in the players in his forward line, even in the absence of Olivier Giroud all summer long.
Let’s hope his confidence in these lads pays off this season!
