2 Sep 2014

United sign Falcao

1:36 pm on 2 September 2014

Manchester United have agreed to sign Colombian striker Radamel Falcao in a $12 million season-long loan deal from Monaco, with an option to also buy the player.

The Colombian striker Radamel Falcao playing for Atletico Madrid.

The Colombian striker Radamel Falcao playing for Atletico Madrid. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Falcao has scored 11 goals in 20 league appearances for Monaco, and the 28-year-old has two in three games this season.

After their record signing of midfielder Angel di Maria, many United fans are wondering why manager Louis Van Gaal hasn't found much-needed defensive reinforcements.

Manchester United managers Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs

Manchester United managers Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have left Old Trafford along with long-serving left back Patrice Evra.

Although Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw have been signed along with versatile Dutchman Daley Blind, Van Gaal's defensive resources look thin.

Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans have struggled to adapt to Van Gaal's preferred 5-3-2 formation and Van Gaal has been forced by injuries to play 20-year-old Tyler Blackett.

Meanwhile Mexican Javier Hernandez has been loaned to Real Madrid and Falcao's arrival has also allowed Van Gaal to offload England's Danny Welbeck to Arsenal.

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez reacts after missing a shot on goal. 2014.

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez reacts after missing a shot on goal. 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Colombian, who is joining United initially on a season-long loan, is a proven marksman.

He netted 41 times in 51 games for Porto, scored 52 goals in 68 matches for Atletico Madrid and 11 in 20 appearances for Monaco before a knee injury ended his season early and ruled him out of this year's World Cup.

United manager van Gaal spent more than $NZ 300 million in the transfer window including signing versatile Ajax midfielder Daley Blind for $NZ 28 million.

In other transfer news, Hull City made a triple swoop on transfer-deadline day by signing Uruguay pair Abel Hernandez and Gaston Ramirez and Senegal captain Mohamed Diame.

Burnley made a double swoop for Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and Hull winger George Boyd.

Tottenham Hotspur have signed defensive midfielder Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier for an undisclosed fee.

Netherlands midfielder Marco van Ginkel has followed former club-mate Fernando Torres by leaving Chelsea to join AC Milan on loan.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby, who spent some of last season on loan at Fulham, returned to the Bundesliga, joining Hamburg SV in another one-year loan deal.

Sunderland have signed Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates from Liverpool on a season-long loan.

France midfielder Lassana Diarra's transfer to Queens Park Rangers from Lokomotiv Moscow has collapsed, 48 hours after the Premier League club's manager Harry Redknapp said he had agreed to the move.