Twitter Reacts to Radamel Falcao's Proposed Transfer to Manchester United

The final day of the transfer window has a patent for yielding some remarkably surprising transfer deals. But even by the crazy standards this day typically sets, Radamel Falcao’s proposed move to Manchester United is staggering.

Reports have emerged suggesting that the Colombian hit man will join up with Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford on a one-year loan deal in what would be a massive coup for the Red Devils. And at a time when social media is typically a whirlwind of ferocious hyperbole and commerce, Twitter has naturally gone into overdrive.

Whispers began to emerge regarding a potential switch early on in the day, with Spanish newspaper AS suggesting that Falcao would sign for United in a big-money permanent deal, as noted here by Wayne Veysey of Goal.com:

But as more details began to creep through, it became apparent that while the player looked set to make the move to Old Trafford, it was likely to be on a one-year loan deal, as noted here by Mark Ogden of The Telegraph:

Daniel Taylor of The Guardian got straight to the point with his reaction as more news continued to break:

Figures also began to come out regarding the deal, with United having reportedly splashed out a stratospheric amount to bring the player in on a temporary basis. The Mail Online broke down the fee and salary United will pay to bring the 28-year-old to Old Trafford:

OptaJoe gave us an inkling of what United can expect for their outlay:

As did WhoScored.com:

The fan account BusbysWay was getting excited about what Falcao could potentially bring to the Red Devils' line-up:

And with the deal seemingly on the cusp of being done, questions began to be asked about where Falcao would fit into a United forward line that is already pretty well-stocked with quality options. James Ducker of The Times proposed United’s best XI should the Monaco man join up:

Meanwhile, Bleacher Report UK took a light-hearted look at the Red Devils’ potential starting XI after their summer acquisitions:

And the inquest over the deal continued, with many pointing to United’s lack of defensive options as a concern. The team have struggled to come to terms with Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system, and subsequently plenty felt that United would be looking to bolster the back-line on deadline day.

Perhaps Falcao could do a job in the back three, too? Some Red Devils fans are hoping so, as noted here by Ian Abrahams of talkSPORT:

Bleacher Report’s Karl Matchett looked at what this deal could potentially mean for some of United’s other players, citing Wayne Rooney as the man who could be set to be left out of the team:

From a Monaco perspective, you’d imagine it’ll be hugely disappointing to lose not only Falcao but James Rodriguez too; the latter signed for Real Madrid earlier this summer. But when it comes to their star centre-forward, ESPN's Miguel Delaney doesn’t think that the club will be too concerned:

Indeed, according to sports writer Tariq Panja, Falcao’s departure was necessary for Monaco to fall in line with Financial Fair Play regulations:

Failing to adhere to those regulations could have seen Monaco booted out of the Champions League. But for Falcao, that may not have been a major concern, for he’s now set to miss out on playing European football’s top-tier competition for the fifth consecutive season, as noted by BT Sport’s James Horncastle:

But for United, it’s a deal that shows that they remain a club of huge stature and unshakeable gravitas. Even without the lure of Champions League football, they’ve been able to attract one of the game’s finest centre-forwards just days after signing one of Europe’s most coveted midfield men.

While there are other areas of the team that undeniably need strengthening, bringing in a player of Falcao’s quality is sure to give everyone at the club a major boost. After such a difficult start to the season, it’ll be the injection of momentum and goals the club needs to get their season started in earnest.