Chelsea warned that Radamel Falcao could be another Fernando Torres
Radamel Falcao could mirror the failure of Fernando Torres should he join Chelsea during the summer transfer window, according to former defender Jason Cundy.
Falcao scored just four goals during a season-long spell at Manchester United, with Louis van Gaal deciding against a permanent deal for the Monaco forward, loaned for a reported £6m.
Sky Sports understands Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Falcao for the 2015-16 season in the hope of inspiring the Colombia international to rediscover his best form, but Cundy is concerned his injury history means he will join the list of failed signings at Stamford Bridge.
"My concerns are what most Chelsea fans' concerns are: that he will not be able to live up to and deliver the sort of form that he showed 18 months or two years ago when he was the most devastating striker in world football," Cundy told Talksport.
"He showed Chelsea that in the Super Cup with a hat-trick – he was just unplayable that day. Of course the knee injury, it was a really bad one that he suffered and there have been flashes and glimpses of the sort of player we saw before that.
"Jose [Mourinho] has always liked him. From a distance he has always been an admirer and I think when a chance comes up for a player like this, and if he can produce that form over the course of a season he's a snip. My concerns are that he could well be another Torres.
"There is nothing worse in football than watching a striker who was once at the very top of his profession struggle. I saw it with Torres and hopefully we don't see it with Falcao. He cut a figure of someone who has lost a lot of confidence [last season].
"We know Van Gaal is a bit of a taskmaster; maybe he was the wrong manager for him. But Jose, if he can strike the right tune out of him then we have a good striker on our hands, but there is an awful lot that needs to be seen before that conclusion can be drawn."
Prior to a knee injury that saw Falcao miss the World Cup finals, the ex-Porto forward was among the most feared strikers in the global game, but his reputation took a significant dent last season.
Falcao netted four goals in 29 appearances in all competitions for United and often cut a dejected figure as he quickly became a peripheral member of Van Gaal's first team squad.
The player has since returned to parent club Monaco, however his return to the Premier League appears to be imminent.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.