Chelsea & Manchester City battles to sign Radamel Falcao

Cash-rich Chelsea and Manchester City are set to go head-to-head in a battle to sign Colombian hotshot Radamel Falcao this January.

According to reports in the Sunday Express, the two Premier League sides are both heavily interested in the signature of Atletico Madrid’s free-scoring goal-machine and are set to make their move in January’s transfer window.

The former Porto player has a €60million release clause in his contract, a fee which neither of these billionaire’s playthings would have any problem meeting.

How it might fit in with UEFA’s impending Financial Fair Play is a different matter but both clubs are desperate to land Falcao and will readily trigger his release clause.

Mancini was left frustrated when Chelsea beat his club to the signing of Belgian attacker Eden Hazard.

He doesn’t want the same scenario over Falcao, who has helped his team to joint-top spot with Barcelona in La Liga, a full eight points clear of neighbours Real.