Falcao plays cool as Chelsea move nears

Colombia forward Radamel Falcao expects his future to be resolved soon after indicating a potential loan move to Chelsea can soon be done.

The Premier League champions are widely reported to already have reached an agreement with Monaco to sign Falcao for next season, although there has yet to be any official confirmation from either club.

Falcao scored only four times in 29 appearances for Manchester United, so the Red Devils decided not to take up an option to sign the forward on a permanent deal.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, though, feels the Premier League did not see the best of the 29-year-old last season, and the Blues are in need of some frontline reinforcement following the departure of Didier Drogba.

The question of his future was put to Falcao when he spoke to reporters following Colombia’s 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Copa America in Chile, and the player suggested a resolution was not far away.

“I am just thinking of the Copa America and the squad, my staff are taking care of this,” he said.

Asked if the reports linking him with a loan move to Chelsea were correct, Falcao added: “It can be, you will know soon.”

Chelsea are expected to strengthen the squad which last season won the Premier League by eight points. Uruguay defender Diego Godin and Spanish midfielder Koke at Atletico Madrid are reported targets, along with Real Madrid’s French international centre-half Raphael Varane and Belgian international Toby Alderweireld, who was on loan at Southampton last season.

Those transfer moves look set to also include a goalkeeper, with veteran Petr Cech appearing ever closer to an £11 million switch across London to Arsenal and Asmir Begovic of Stoke said to be a potential recruit as back-up for number one Thibaut Courtois.

Winger Gael Kakuta, meanwhile, has joined Sevilla following several loan spells away from Stamford Bridge.

Midfielder John Obi Mikel is another said to be open to a move, with Fenerbahce in Turkey a possible destination for the Nigeria international.

Mourinho, meanwhile, is confident Chelsea can expand their dominance on the pitch following plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 60,000-seater stadium. Chelsea’s plans are still several years away from completion, with an exhibition of ideas for the changes to be held from June 30 to July 2, and there are many potential problems to overcome given the constraints of the surrounding area.

“I think it is the next step for Chelsea,” Mourinho said in an interview with the BBC. “Chelsea won four Premier Leagues in the last decade, we have become a huge club. Stamford Bridge is always full and we feel that need (to expand).

“I trust Mr (Roman) Abramovich and the board. I don’t think too much about these details — my focus is the work on the pitch. We will have capacity for more fans and I think that is what Chelsea are waiting for.”

Meanwhile Southampton have announced the signing of Portugal defender Cedric Soares from Sporting Lisbon. The right-back, 23, becomes the Saints’ second summer transfer following the arrival of Spanish forward Juanmi from Malaga.

The Saints did not reveal the fee paid, but Soares has reportedly cost the club in the region of £3.6m (€5m).

The arrival of another right-back will increase speculation regarding the future of Nathaniel Clyne, with the Saints yet to comment on the England defender’s situation as he enters the final year of his contract with both Liverpool and Manchester United understood to be interested.

Liverpool hope to finalise a deal for Charlton teenager Joe Gomez later this week with the 18-year-old scheduled to undergo a medical today.

The Reds have triggered a £3.5m release clause in the England U19 international’s contract which has paved the way for the move to be completed.

The future of Reds forward Raheem Sterling remains shrouded in dbout, though his latest apparent laughing gas incident is unlikely to have any effect on his club’s stance in relation to the player’s ongoing transfer saga.

Manchester City on Wednesday failed in their second attempt to sign the England international after upping their initial offer by £10m to £40m.

A day later footage emerged allegedly showing the 20-year-old taking the legal high nitrous oxide while on holiday in Ibiza — the second time the youngster has been caught apparently inhaling laughing gas, and while Liverpool have refused to comment on the incident it is understood the club’s view on the player’s position has not changed.

They value him in excess of £50m and, with a 20% sell-on fee due to previous club QPR, they will hold out for the best price they can.

There is positive news for the Reds as defender Martin Skrtel is set to sign a new contract after having his own issues over the terms of the deal.

However, those issues appear to have been sorted and the 30-year-old centre-back will now sign an extension to the remaining 12 months he currently has.