Radamel Falcao

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Hoping its true mainly because

The thing to consider about waiting till the summer is more teams will be bidding for the services of big stars

If we go big in January we stand a better chance of getting the jump on the competition. I really think we need to address this now because teams like City, PSG Real, etc. will be looking for upgrades and on top of that we might not look like the best destination if we continue to look poor heading into the summer

[Ankit 3,176]

He won't be getting 200k i am sure. Chelsea aren't that stupid and desperate. His wage could be similar to Torres's but 200k? You are kidding me.

[Billy. 2,742]

im not going to get excited this window or any other the last few windows i have been on twitter facebook SSN all day long this time im just gonna wait lol gonna be hard but just dont wanna go though all the ups and downs again lol.

But on topic i hope he joins lol

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I believe this is wrong. Man utd received like 18m less than we did last season for getting knocked out in the groups.

Apologies. I did some research and it seems that you get 3.9m for getting into the group stages then 550k for each match, 800k for each win and 400 for each draw (all in euros) which would make our total income 11.8m euros or less than 9.6m pounds as opposed to last season's 47m pounds.

Still, I think my point stands and the sponsorship deals won't be able to make up the 37m difference.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

A few logic gaps:

1) The transfer fee does not have to be uniformly divided on the length of his contract neither do we have to give him 5.5 years. But let's over look this point because both could be possible.

2) Josh and PVA are not adequate replacements for Lamps and Cole, at least not at the moment.

3) Our squad is very thin and we need reinforcement not just at ST but in several other areas.

4) Our expenses this year have been far more than last year. This year we bought the likes of Moses, Oscar, Hazard, Marin and Azpi who cost a whole lot more than last season's signings who, apart from Mata who cost 23m IIRC, were relatively cheap deals.

5) Last and most important, we got 47m for winning the CL last season but we'll only get 3.9m for making the group stages this season. And even if we win the EL we will only get 3m. That is 40m less than we made last season! There is no way that the deals we made can cover the this deficit, we'd be lucky to even be getting 15-20m a year from those deals. That is still a 20-25m less than our income last season unlike the article that assumed that we would have about the same income.

Sorry boys, but this is written in hope rather than logic.

Exactly what I'm saying. They won't sign him because we won't be able to meet FFP rules if we do.

1) pretty much every team that is up against FFP will opt for amortized contracts and every player in their prime is signing 5 year deals.

2) Its pretty safe to say both Frank and Ash are close to gone. Currently we have Ramires, Mikel, Oscar, McEachran, Romeu, Essien and perhaps DeBruyne? competing for 2 positions if we stay with 4-2-3-1. More than enough cover. At LB we have Bertrand and Cesar who could play there admittedly we are thin there but might be able to find a little more wiggle room if we sell(Sturridge) or buy a cheap solution.

3) yes our team is thin at LB not really anywhere else but we're massively thin at striker.

4) Yes we've spent a lot but we also made a lot of money too. Our winnings pretty much funded those signings. And if I recall correctly a couple months ago Gourlay came out publicly to say there is a big sponsorship deal in place that will be announced in Feb. If true it could put a lot of this talk to bed. Still I doubt our Board(as dumb as they seem) would be looking at Falcao if we couldn't afford to fund it.

5) We could get a larger share of the TV money if Arsenal and Man U get knocked out early. We got the large share of the TV deal because we were the only English club left in the competition. Again its not a certainty but I wouldn't bet against it since there is a need.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Read this. Its pretty good...

http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/12/14/3767290/can-chelsea-fc-afford-to-sign-radamel-falcao

I don't agree generally with the piece because there is no way we are going to break even this year no matter what. We spent much more this summer, are going to be losing 20+M in the CL, gave a few new contracts out, and still have to pay amortized payments for previous transfers. At the minimum, we'll lose 20M+ Even if we could scrape things together and cut corners to sign Falcao,could afford to sign Falcao and nobody else. With Cole and Lampard leaving and with some pretty obvious holes already in the lineup, spending everything on one player is ridiculous. For 50M, we could be able to buy an elite LB, an excellent CM, and an excellent striker. We're not one player away from being a top team.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Hulk was also "100% complete" according to Twitter. I wont get my hopes up at all before its official.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I don't agree generally with the piece because there is no way we are going to break even this year no matter what. We spent much more this summer, are going to be losing 20+M in the CL, gave a few new contracts out, and still have to pay amortized payments for previous transfers. At the minimum, we'll lose 20M+ Even if we could scrape things together and cut corners to sign Falcao,could afford to sign Falcao and nobody else. With Cole and Lampard leaving and with some pretty obvious holes already in the lineup, spending everything on one player is ridiculous. For 50M, we could be able to buy an elite LB, an excellent CM, and an excellent striker. We're not one player away from being a top team.

You should read it. We'll make money simply by removing the big contracts we have. Also I'm pretty sure Sturridge will be sold... Gourlay said two months ago there is a massive sponsorship deal that will be announced in Feb. Its not impossible its just gonna leave us thin

[Marvin123 484]

Due to FFP I fully believe Torres will be heading in the opposite direction and we will end up with Falcao and Gomis come February

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

You should read it. We'll make money simply by removing the big contracts we have. Also I'm pretty sure Sturridge will be sold... Gourlay said two months ago there is a massive sponsorship deal that will be announced in Feb. Its not impossible its just gonna leave us thin

I read it. The problem is that expiring contracts don't save enough money. Lampard+Ferrier+Hilario=roughly what we'd give Falcao which means that we'd save Cole and Malouda's salaries except that we've also given new contracts and raises to Luiz, Bertrand, and Mikel which eat a lot of that which means that for all the money we'd be saving would be at best, around 6-10M a year. And that's without players coming back from loan whose salaries we would have to take on (and if they do well, that means a deserved increase in salary). Even if we could do it, it makes no sense. We are a team that has multiple needs.

[Rmpr 8,977]

It seems I will get a chance to prove my point!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

1) pretty much every team that is up against FFP will opt for amortized contracts and every player in their prime is signing 5 year deals.

2) Its pretty safe to say both Frank and Ash are close to gone. Currently we have Ramires, Mikel, Oscar, McEachran, Romeu, Essien and perhaps DeBruyne? competing for 2 positions if we stay with 4-2-3-1. More than enough cover. At LB we have Bertrand and Cesar who could play there admittedly we are thin there but might be able to find a little more wiggle room if we sell(Sturridge) or buy a cheap solution.

3) yes our team is thin at LB not really anywhere else but we're massively thin at striker.

4) Yes we've spent a lot but we also made a lot of money too. Our winnings pretty much funded those signings. And if I recall correctly a couple months ago Gourlay came out publicly to say there is a big sponsorship deal in place that will be announced in Feb. If true it could put a lot of this talk to bed. Still I doubt our Board(as dumb as they seem) would be looking at Falcao if we couldn't afford to fund it.

5) We could get a larger share of the TV money if Arsenal and Man U get knocked out early. We got the large share of the TV deal because we were the only English club left in the competition. Again its not a certainty but I wouldn't bet against it since there is a need.

1) Again, it's a possibility not a certainty.

2) It's not about quantity but quality. Essien is finished. Oscar will play at CAM more than the pivot and Josh will most likely be loaned out again. KDP could be loaned as well. In fact I'd say after ST the second thing we are missing the most is a CM. Cesar is only an option at LB in case of an emergency, we still need to buy another RB. So no, Josh and PVA are not adequate replacements for the departure of the players with the expiring contracts.

3) We might only be short on starters at ST but we are lacking squad depth all over. That has been our main problem this season. If we are to be serious competitors in the PL and Cl we need to sign at least another RB, a CM and if Danny leaves, 2 strikers.

4) Our winnings last season barely made up for our spending last season, it did not fund our spending this season. And we don't know that our board is looking to sign Falcao, it's all rumors.

5) Still that won't make up for 35m difference from last year.

[ANDRECHO 432]

Tuttomercato: "Abramovich invites Falcao to London"

http://www.as.com/english/articulo/tuttomercato-abramovich-invites-falcao-to/20121218dasdenspo_5/Ten

[Kezza 1,965]

Please do not post articles about the transfer that aren't from either SSN, ESPN (to a certain extent), CFC website or newspaper articles that have quotes. I'd love to know who spoke to RA. Tell me who!

Grr it's annoying.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I read it. The problem is that expiring contracts don't save enough money. Lampard+Ferrier+Hilario=roughly what we'd give Falcao which means that we'd save Cole and Malouda's salaries except that we've also given new contracts and raises to Luiz, Bertrand, and Mikel which eat a lot of that which means that for all the money we'd be saving would be at best, around 6-10M a year. And that's without players coming back from loan whose salaries we would have to take on (and if they do well, that means a deserved increase in salary). Even if we could do it, it makes no sense. We are a team that has multiple needs.

I hear that. I'm not convinced we can't fit him in. There's just too much speculation for it not to be on... Perhaps Torres goes out too?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

1) Again, it's a possibility not a certainty.

2) It's not about quantity but quality. Essien is finished. Oscar will play at CAM more than the pivot and Josh will most likely be loaned out again. KDP could be loaned as well. In fact I'd say after ST the second thing we are missing the most is a CM. Cesar is only an option at LB in case of an emergency, we still need to buy another RB. So no, Josh and PVA are not adequate replacements for the departure of the players with the expiring contracts.

3) We might only be short on starters at ST but we are lacking squad depth all over. That has been our main problem this season. If we are to be serious competitors in the PL and Cl we need to sign at least another RB, a CM and if Danny leaves, 2 strikers.

4) Our winnings last season barely made up for our spending last season, it did not fund our spending this season. And we don't know that our board is looking to sign Falcao, it's all rumors.

5) Still that won't make up for 35m difference from last year.

I'm not going to go back and forth over this. I'm not 100% it will happen, it just feels more likely than in the past. We don't know what our financial situation is like in actuality so we could be in a better position than we actually think... Time will time until then CAREFREE! I want him though

[JDY 1,290]

With the money quoted to get Falcao we could get Lewandowski, Coentrao, Llorente, and Capoue. Keeping in mind De Bruyne's return, Lamps & Cole likely to leave (Maybe Torres). I know what I'd rather happen.

We need to strengthen in numerous positions, signing Falcao alone wouldn't solve our problems.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Anyone know where to find any stats done on chance conversion rate? and how Falcao ranks in comparison to other 'elite' strikers in the top European leagues. I know Suarez will be way down the list, since he misses 8 chances before scoring one goal

Anyway given the shoddy production we have been getting from our strikers over the past 3 seasons* i just hope whoever we get; Falcao or whoever can deliver. Enough with the torture, we need a striker that can carry this team. This team that is able to create 5 chances a game and still find a way to not score.

* I know someone is going to mention Drogba last season, but he only did it in the big games, which is great really - but he had like 6 goals total in the premier league, which is just awful. The season before that he had malaria and went cold after a good start.