United to tie down The Tiger

The Manchester United hierarchy have decided to take up the option allowing them to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent basis and will do so shortly. A clause to this effect was inserted into the deal that took the Colombian from Monaco to Old Trafford on 31st August, with a fee of €50 million set - of which the Premier League giants forked out €10m to snap up the striker on loan on transfer deadline day.

The Tiger was a long way from peak fitness when he arrived in Manchester and has had to contend with the odd problem with his troublesome left knee, on which he underwent surgery in January. Falcao having cut corners and rushed back to action to try to make Colombia's World Cup squad is believed to be at the root of these issues. However, tests performed in the last few days have supposedly shown that the marksman is now fully up to scratch physically and able to withstand the rigours of regular football.

Louis van Gaal, who has the last word on all such matters, has rubber-stamped the move to secure Falcao permanently and further developments are expected in the coming days. In fact, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev recently met up with super-agent Jorge Mendes in Dubai to set the wheels in motion.