Unai Emery wants to sign Radamel Falcao from AS Monaco, according to a report in Spain, though Real Betis and Sevilla are both trying to bring the striker back to La Liga.
![Spanish media: Unai Emery wants Radamel Falcao 1 lemar mbappe training](/static/uploads/2017/08/lemar-mbappe-training.jpg)
The report originated in Don Balon, so it’s definitely worth taking with a pinch of salt. Apparently, they’re tired of linking Arsenal to Karim Benzema every single transfer window, so they’ve moved on to another striker with connections to La Liga.
Falcao spent a couple of years with Atletico Madrid from 2011 to 2013, scoring 70 goals in 91 games. That earned him a big money move to Monaco, but just a year later he was on the move again, spending time on loan with Manchester United and Chelsea.
Though those temporary spells didn’t go as planned, partly thanks to a number of injuries, Falcao has improved significantly in his second spell with Monaco. The striker has 69 goals in 114 games since the start of 2016/17, and he now has just one year left on his contract in France.
Don Balon claim Arsenal join Betis and Sevilla in chasing a summer transfer. Falcao could reportedly be tempted by European football and a higher salary at the Emirates Stadium, compared to the two La Liga clubs.
Arsenal signing Falcao for a discounted fee, given his expiring contract, wouldn’t actually be a terrible idea. The striker has been back to his best since overcoming his injury problems, and he’s great in the air, scoring 25% of his goals for Monaco with his head in Ligue 1 and the Champions League since 2016.
The Gunners could use a striker like that as a backup to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, but if Don Balon is the only source, I wouldn’t expect anything to come of the story.