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The Falcao has landed!

Athletico Madrid's Columbian ace, Radamel Falcao is a name known to most football fans across Europe. He certainly made himself known to Chelsea fan's when he knocked three past them in a man of the match performance, securing his side the victory in the UEFA Super Cup, against the reigning Champions of Europe. 

Since then, the 26 year old hitman, who only moved to La Liga from Porto for a club record of 45 million Euro's in August of 2011, has been linked with moves to other European clubs. The most prominent being Chelsea, who not only know first hand what the forward can do, but also have the cash to firm up any interest.  As well as Chelsea, premier league rivals Manchester City also have the financial clout to go after the much sought after target man. 

However, whilst money is very important in the modern game, it's not always the be all and end all. The player does have a say in where they end up, they are a human being after all, despite in recent years footballers seeming more like commodities than people.  And with that in mind, and with Falcao's final destination being his own choice, assuming he was open to leaving Athletico Madrid, then another English club may have emerged as a possibility. 

In recent weeks, Falcao revealed that as a child, he used to admire  fellow countryman, Faustino Asprilla, in his time at premier league side Newcastle United. And as such, the striker still has a heart felt fondness for the Tyneside football club. It would be an incredible coup for the side, owned by English Billionaire Mike Ashley, to bring the much vaunted centre forward to the North East. And with the club financially sound and more or less debt free, they may well have the money to spend. Especially since they are on the lookout for another striker to bolster their already frightening offence. With his childhood ties to the Magpies, Radamel Falcao man very well soon be trading in the red and white for the black and white.

Saint Ashley

In more local news, England and Chelsea left back Ashley Cole may well be close to the exit door at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea recently made it clear that they will only be issuing a one year contract extension to any of their players nearing the end of their current deals, and over thirty years of age. Cole, and fellow Countryman Frank Lampard, falls into this category. His current deal with the London side expires at the end of the season, and it seems unlikely that he will sign on for just one extra year, and it's likely that a whole host of clubs will be interested in the world class full back. Already he's being linked to top outfits across Europe  including Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Paris Saint Germain is also another potential destination, with the money bags French side's manager Carlo Ancelotti having experience with Cole, from his own time in charge at Chelsea.

Whether Cole would like to leave the Premier League behind is another story, and it's certainly likely that he will get the chance to move to another club in England's top flight. A surprising yet possible move could be further south from the Capital, to recently promoted Southampton. The Saint's are quite ambitious, with some quarters claiming that they plan to push for Champions League qualification within the next five years. And they have already proven that they have the determination to follow through on that ambition with the club recording signing of Uruguayan winger Gaston Ramirez from Bologna for 12m in the summer. 

Whilst entering the twilight of his career, Ashley Cole would be a great addition to any side, and would definitely be an upgrade for Southampton's current left back, Scottish international Danny Fox. Who, whilst good enough for the south coast side, is not in the same bracket as Ashley Cole, the most capped English defender of all time. One stumbling block may be his wages, with Cole's ability enough for him to demand a high pay packet, it remains to be seen whether the left back will be interested enough to reject interest from some of Europe's greatest clubs.