Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have been placed on red alert after reports emerged that Radamel Falcao could leave AS Monaco when the transfer window reopens in January, according to French publication Le10Sport.
The newspaper reports how a journalist from popular Spanish show Punto Pelota has revealed that the Colombian striker has a €60million buy-out clause written into his contract with the Ligue 1 club, that can be activated in 2014.
"From January 2014, AS Monaco will be forced to accept an offer from a team like Real Madrid, Chelsea or Manchester United," said Manu Sainz.
Real Madrid has been touted as Falcao's most likely destination, having been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu during his time in La Liga at the Vicente Calderon stadium.
However, Atletico Madrid were eager not to sell their star player to a local rival, and so sanctioned his high-profile transfer to France, where he linked up with Claudio Ranieri's newly-promoted Principality side.
Jose Mourinho's interest in the 27-year-old is likely to remain, so expect Chelsea to join the race for Falcao's signature at the turn of the year, given the Portuguese coach's dissatisfaction with his current choice of Stamford Bridge strikers, that prompted the free transfer arrival of Samuel Eto'o earlier this summer.
Red Devils boss David Moyes will also be looking to make a statement of intent in January, to prove that the reigning Premier League champions are not a fading force in the transfer market, after the embarrassing debacle that left the club scraping the barrel for a summer signing on deadline day.
With Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez already to choose from, Manchester United are not exactly short on frontmen, but given Falcao's prolific record, a switch to Old Trafford should not be ruled out either.
