Man U signs Falcao in last transfer of the season

LONDON - A week after signing Angel Di Maria, Manchester United persuaded striker Radamel Falcao to join the faltering club in European football’s most eye-catching switch as the summer transfer window closed.

Falcao’s season-long loan from Monaco is set to cost United around $25 million for the salary and fee to the French club, although there is an option to then sign the Colombia forward permanently.

The record 20-time English champion has been frantically trying to strengthen its squad in an attempt to halt an alarming decline over the past year. After a seventh-place finish under the ill-fated reign of David Moyes, the new manager, Louis van Gaal, has failed to win any of his first four games, including a humiliating League Cup loss against third-tier side MK Dons.

“[Falcao] is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the game,’’ van Gaal said. “His appearance-to-goal ratio speaks for itself and, when a player of this caliber becomes available, it is an opportunity not to be missed.’’

With the versatile Netherlands international Daley Blind also joining Monday for $23 million from Ajax to be reunited with his World Cup Coach van Gaal, United’s summer spending reached about $250 million.

United recouped $27 million by selling striker Danny Welbeck to Arsenal on Monday, while another forward, Javier Hernandez, went on a season-long loan to Real Madrid.

Falcao adds another world-class player to striking options that already includes Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

“Manchester United is the biggest club in the world and is clearly determined to get back to the top,’’ said Falcao, who left Monaco a year after joining from Atletico Madrid for $78 million. “I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal and contributing to the team’s success at this very exciting period in the club’s history.’’

The challenge is for United to prevent neighbor Manchester City from becoming the dominant force in England after it won two of the last three Premier League titles. It appeared that City rejected the chance to pursue Falcao’s signature, with the champions’ deadline-day activity restricted to outgoings, including striker Alvaro Negredo joining Valencia on loan for the season.

Although deadline-day produced many loan moves, the summer transfer window saw more than $1.4 billion spent by Premier League clubs.

It was a busy day at Hull. The northeast club signed Uruguay World Cup striker Abel Hernandez from Italian side Palermo for a club-record fee in the region of $16 million, added Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame from West Ham for about $6 million, and brought Uruguay midfielder Gaston Ramirez in on a season-long loan from Southampton.

There was an outgoing from Hull, with midfielder George Boyd sold to Premier League newcomer Burnley, which also signed Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah on loan until January.

Tottenham loaned German midfielder Lewis Holtby to Hamburg for a year with a view to a permanent transfer and sold Sandro to Premier League rival Queens Park Rangers, while bringing in defender Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier.

AP