Radamel Falcao: 5 Reasons Why Manchester United Should Not Sign on-Loan Striker
Radamel Falcao's Manchester United future is under much debate this month, and manager Louis van Gaal would be wise to cut his losses with the Colombia striker for a multitude for reasons.
Jason Burt of The Telegraph writes that United have "until the end of the season, to decide whether to take up the option to sign Falcao on a permanent basis with [Van Gaal] stating that the forward, 28, still has to prove he is worth retaining."
Van Gaal recently claimed that the striker "has to prove himself," as reported by BBC Sport.
Falcao's summer loan was one of the most high-profile transfers in world football, but so far, the United man has failed to match that billing with his performances.
Here are five reasons why United should not sign Falcao on a permanent transfer, including a look at the bright future of another Red Devils striker.
Age
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First, Falcao's age makes him a difficult signing to rationalise for Van Gaal, with the striker's best years arguably behind him.
El Tigre turns 29 in February and is part of an ageing strike force, which also includes 29-year-old Wayne Rooney and 31-year-old Robin van Persie.
Research by the Mirror, as reported by Phil Dawkes, suggests that "the prime age for a Premier League footballer is 27."
Falcao will likely only decline from this point, and thus represents somewhat of a short-term prospect.
This is an issue exacerbated by the fitness issues that have plagued Falcao's time with the club so far.
Injuries and Fitness Issues
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United's summer offer represented an olive branch for Falcao, who had just missed the World Cup after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in action for parent club AS Monaco.
This season, Falcao has also struggled with a month-long calf injury, as well as various other fitness issues.
This has limited him to just 13 Premier League appearances, with just eight of those coming as a starter.
Questioned on the striker's contribution in November, as reported by The Guardian's Jamie Jackson, Van Gaal declared: "Do you think that we expected he would be so many weeks injured?"
The manager continued by alluding to his summer ACL problems by suggesting: "Because of that [injury] maybe we didn’t buy him."
Falcao's injuries may become too much of a burden and, perhaps most pertinently, a reason why he has struggled to adapt at Old Trafford.
Playing Style
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One major factor in Falcao's struggle to adapt is his jarring with United's style of play under Van Gaal.
In an overview of the manager's footballing philosophy, Elko Born suggested in the Mirror that as well as score goals, the striker "must also be able to hold up the ball and pass it to the attacking midfielders and the wingers."
Falcao has made less key passes, with 0.8 per game on average, than any other regular United striker this season, highlighting his inability to contribute effectively to the attacking build-up.
Another area that is crucial in Van Gaal's system is defending from the front.
Falcao has made the least tackles on average per game, 0.5, of any regular United starter—even Robin van Persie (0.8) and Juan Mata (0.9) have contributed more in the defensive phase.
A formidable finisher when on form, Falcao is a worthy asset to a successful side, but he is perhaps not the kind of striker Van Gaal requires in his United side.
Transfer Outlay
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Considering Falcao's age, his fitness troubles and his ill-suiting to Van Gaal's style, one of the biggest factors in United's decision whether or not to sign the striker comes from a financial point of view.
As Burt highlights: "United will attempt to renegotiate the £43 million transfer fee they agreed to pay...should they decide to keep the striker beyond his season-long loan."
This already suggests that the side are unwilling to finance such a costly deal for the striker, who earns £265,000 a week in wages.
Given Falcao has contributed just three goals and three assists so far this season, this makes a potential deal at this price even more bemusing.
Signing Falcao for £43 million and paying him the wages that he will likely continue to demand could hamper United's financial muscle in other areas of the market.
Furthermore, Falcao's continued presence could impact on one of United's promising breakthrough stars.
James Wilson
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James Wilson has, at times, been preferred to Falcao in United's starting lineup this season, underlining just how much potential the 19-year-old striker is considered to have.
One such example was in December's 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford, before which Van Gaal effectively claimed that both strikers were on a level playing field in terms of his team selection.
Jack Wilson of the Daily Star quoted the manager as saying: "I have to talk about the qualities of Wilson and the qualities of Falcao and I think we need Wilson in this match."
It can be argued that Wilson's pace, commitment and determination are qualities that suit Van Gaal's system more than Falcao.
Wilson scored his first goal of the Premier League season in Saturday's 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, with Falcao squandering some gilt-edged opportunities in the same bout.
Perhaps United are best served focusing on the development of Wilson rather than pursuing a permanent deal for an ageing, injury-hit, unsuitable and overly expensive Falcao.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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