The price Manchester United will pay for new signing Radamel Falcao

Posted Tuesday, September 02, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

RADAMEL FALCAO could end up costing Manchester United almost £70m.

The price Manchester United will pay for new signing Radamel Falcao
SUPER STAR: The Colombian adds to Van Gaal's options

Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal has taken a £24m gamble on the Colombian striker firing his side back into the Champions League this season.

The Premier League club have paid Monaco £6m to loan Falcao until the end of the season and are believed to be paying almost £18m-a-year in wages – around £350,000-a-week.

United have denied they are paying the striker that much – but he is definitely their highest earner with skipper Wayne Rooney on a deal worth around £250,000-a-week.

They also have an agreement in place to sign the forward at the end of the loan agreement with the Ligue 1 side commanding a fee in the region of £45m.

It is a huge risk for United who smashed the British transfer record last week to sign Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid.

They have also brought in Ander Herrera for £29m, Luke Shaw for £27m, Marcos Rojo for £16m and Daley Blind, who completed his move last night, for £14m.

Falcao, 28, was earning around £200,000 tax free while playing for Monaco and would only agree to a move to the Premier League if a club would ensure his net wage did not drop.

That means United are believed to be paying the former Porto and Atletico Madrid striker around £346,000-a-week.

He becomes the highest player at the club with Rooney next in line.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward moved for the 28-year-old on Sunday after Van Gaal gave the green light when the player’s agent Jorge Mendes touted him around a number of clubs.

Falcao was expected to join Real Madrid this summer and Liverpool were interested earlier in the window but were told his heart was set on a move back to La Liga.

But Real opted to sign Javier Hernandez on loan from United as cover for Karim Benzema, and with the Colombian desperately wanting out of Monaco United made their move.

The Old Trafford outfit see the deal as a massive coup considering they are not in Europe this season.

But the pressure is now on to return to the Champions League and secure the £40m in TV revenue that comes with playing in Europe’s elite competition.

The Glazer family gave the go ahead on spending such a significant figure as they know sponsors demand they return to Europe within a year.