Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao set to remain at Stamford Bridge after Monaco decline recall chance

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao is likely to remain with Chelsea for the duration of his loan agreement. The 29-year-old, who failed to impress during a similar stint with Manchester United last term, moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long deal in July 2015 but has since been limited to just nine Premier League outings due to an ongoing thigh problem.

Falcao's last appearance in the Premier League came during the 3-1 defeat by Liverpool on 31 October with his only goal to date coming two months previously, against Crystal Palace. Rumours over a possible premature return to the Stade Louis II first emerged last week, when reports in The Telegraph claimed that the Colombian international had travelled back to his parent club for checks on his injury amid suggestions that another setback had left Chelsea eager to end his stay early.

AC Milan's Carlos Bacca and Alex Teixeira of Shakhtar Donetsk are two attacking players believed to be attracting attention from Guus Hiddink during the early stages of the January transfer window. Any potential additions will now have to be made with the continued presence of Falcao in mind, however, with Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev confirming that the Ligue 1 outfit have opted against taking him back due to ongoing fitness concerns.

"Falcao is currently injured," he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "He has six to eight weeks to go like that. We have decided not to take him back to Monaco for the moment."

Beyond Diego Costa, who netted his ninth goal of the season during the FA Cup third-round victory over Scunthorpe on 10 January, Chelsea are bereft of options up front. Alongside Falcao, Loic Remy has been sidelined since late December with a calf issue. Patrick Bamford was recently recalled following a dismal loan spell at Crystal Palace, but he did not even make the bench against lower league opposition as the likes of Kenedy and Bertrand Traore were given a chance to impress instead.

Addressing his forward issue before that routine win, Hiddink said: "We have to be very cautious about our strikers, not having Remy and Falcao is worrying. Now I have settled in a bit I have had more time to analyse the young players between 18-21, so maybe there will be a surprise there.

"I'm still a bit worried about [Falcao's] situation. When I came in he was injured. He trained again, then had a setback. I gave him rest to recover but we will see what happens. He is out of the cycle for the squad."