da betway： According to the Independent, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.
da supremo： The Colombian assassin, who boasts a career return of 200 goals in 302 appearances, only joined the French big-spenders last summer. But rumours since have insisted that the 28-year-old is disillusioned with the overall quality of Ligue 1 and Monaco’s attendances, which often come in at under 10k.
No doubt, Falcao would be a sensational signing for the Anfield outfit, who are still yet to find a direct replacement for now-Barcelona star Luis Suarez.
With that in mind, here’s FIVE ways the former River Plate and Atletico Madrid front-man would change the Reds for the better.
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GOALS
Of course, the obvious advantage to signing Radamel Falcao is that he’s undisputedly one of the most proficient strikers in Europe.
Above all else, the Colombia international is a sensational finisher, and that divine ability has seen him net a ridiculous amount of goals at his prior three clubs:
Even for Monaco, despite suffering a multitude of injury problems last season, the 28 year-old has bagged 12 in 20 across all competitions.
Here’s a look at what Falcao does best – making the onion bag ripple with goalscoring delight:
//www.youtube.com/embed/OO6hG9xsVow?rel=0
Variety
And the beauty of Radamel Falcao’s goal getting is that he doesn’t need one consistent supply line – rather, the South American is capable of putting away a variety of chances.
Take a look at these statistics from his last season with Atletico Madrid for example:
As you can see, he’s comfortable with both feet, even gets a few headed goals and far from the goal-hanging Gary Lineker incarnate he’s often made out to be, can finish from long-range too.
Don’t believe me? How about this strike against Valencia:
//www.youtube.com/embed/DgJ2F3eFQWU?rel=0
Or this tidy effort against Dusseldorf:
//www.youtube.com/embed/FNF4xuFnzqQ?rel=0
A Marquee signing
Ever since Brendan Rodgers took the Anfield gig in summer 2012, Liverpool have eternally struggled to land a marquee signing.
Last summer, the Reds targeted Willian, Henrik Mkhitaryan, Bernard and Diego Costa to name a few, but all rejected a Mersey move, either joining other clubs or opting to stay put.
And although Liverpool have splashed out over £100million on new signings this summer, they still lack that premium purchase to make a statement of their intent in the transfer market.
Well, Radamel Falcao would remedy that in abundance. Not only did Monaco pay a ridiculous €60million for his services just over a year ago, but he’s also being targeted by Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester City to name a few.
And of course, the beauty of making one marquee signing is that others are soon likely to follow. Arsenal for example, would unlikely have signed Alexis Sanchez this summer without acquiring Mesut Ozil in 2013.
Falcao is a target who really could put Liverpool back on the transfer map.
The star-studded fear factor
Following on from the need for a marquee signing, it goes without saying that in the absence of now-Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, Liverpool are lacking that fear factor – the kind of player who has opposition defences trembling from the open whistle.
Well, Radamel Falcao’s Merseyside arrival would address that in abundance. Not least due to a career return 200 goals in 303 appearances, but furthermore through the 28 year-old’s ability to pull of the sublime.
Take this goal for instance that went on to win the 2012 Puskas award – completely unstoppable:
//www.youtube.com/embed/uW28asAEA6o?rel=0
That kind of sensational strike would inject fear into the hearts of any defence. Falcao is a striker the opposition have to specifically prepare for, which is an enormous tactical advantage for Liverpool.
Here’s a look at the Colombia international’s ten best ever goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/YDfjYoW4Bvk?rel=0
He’s not Luis Suarez
The worst thing Liverpool could do this summer is buy a striker that draws too many parallels with Luis Suarez. Simply put, the Uruguayan is irreplaceable, a once-in-a-generation kind of player, and trying to replace him in a like-for-like manner would be an enormous waste of time and money.
Signing long-labelled Luis Suarez incarnate Luis Muriel for example, who has often been linked with an Anfield switch, would be an atrocious idea.
But Radamel Falcao on the other hand, although similar to the now-Barcelona star in some mannerisms, such as their sublime finishing and coolness inside the box, is a polar opposite in many respects.
For example, it’s well known that the Colombian doesn’t contribute too much outside the box, especially when you compare him to the former Anfield favourite:
But in my opinion, that can only be a good thing – there will be less pressure on Falcao to assist in open play, allowing new signings such as Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic to take the creative mantle. Likewise, he won’t be expected to control games in the final third as Suarez often did, but is still capable of impacting them to a similar level.
Rather conveniently, here’s a video comparing Suarez and Falcao:
//www.youtube.com/embed/d1rgUCJM2Hk?rel=0