Thursday 7 January 2016 16:06, UK
Sky sources have confirmed Radamel Falcao was at the Chelsea training ground on Wednesday and Thursday, amid speculation he had returned to Monaco to discuss his future with his parent club.
It has been reported in France that the striker was seen arriving at the Monaco training ground on Tuesday, although neither club have confirmed this to be true.
Sky Sports News HQ understands if Falcao was there, this would most likely have been to allow their medical staff to assess his current thigh injury, after he suffered a setback in his rehabilitation over the Christmas period. It is not uncommon for parent clubs to evaluate their own players when they are injured on loan to other clubs.
The Colombian, who joined Chelsea on a season-long loan in the summer, has only made one Premier League start since his arrival, and scored just one goal. He has not played since October 31, when he was a second-half substitute against Liverpool. He suffered a relapse of his thigh injury during a practice match at Cobham last month.
It is unclear whether there is a break clause in the loan agreement between the clubs, while the player has also been linked with a move to MLS side Columbus Crew. Their season starts in March, which would in theory allow him time to fully recuperate from his current injury.
Chelsea's forwards have scored just eight Premier League goals between them this season. The club have seen Patrick Bamford return early from his unsuccessful loan spell at Crystal Palace, while Christian Atsu has also had his loan spell at Bournemouth terminated. Both players will now be evaluated by the interim manager, Guus Hiddink, and his coaching staff.
Eddie Newton, who was promoted to Hiddink's backroom staff upon the Dutchman's arrival, was previously working with Paolo Ferreira monitoring Chelsea's on-loan players, and will be able to provide Hiddink with in-depth information about the time the pair spent on loan.
Sky Sports News HQ understands it is by no means certain that either player will be considered ready to make the step up to the Chelsea first team, having been unable to force their way into the Crystal Palace and Bournemouth sides respectively.
