Friday 7 August 2015 12:42, UK
Radamel Falcao could be a dream signing for Chelsea this season, according to Graeme Souness.
The Colombian - signed on loan from Monaco - was brought in by Jose Mourinho following the departure of Didier Drogba this summer and will compete with Diego Costa and Loic Remy for a place up front this season.
The 29-year-old sustained ligament damage in January last year and scored just four goals in a disappointing first Premier League season with Manchester United, but Souness says a fully-fit Falcao can thrive in a confident Chelsea team.
"I think Falcao could be an absolute star," said Sky Sports football expert Souness.
"He goes to Manchester United and was finding his feet after an ACL injury. That's the injury players don't want because there's no guarantee you'll come back the same player.
"No matter how good Falcao was before that injury, that would have been in his head.
"He went to Man United, who were chopping and changing their team at the start of last season, looking for a formula. He was in and out of the team and never really got a run of games and I just think he's (now) gone to a team that's settled.
"The system is settled and players are playing with confidence. They're the current champions.
"If you go back three years and asked 10 serious football people if they would want to take Diego Costa or Falcao, to a man they would have taken Falcao.
"He was up there with the very, very best three years ago. The same pressure won't be applied on him this time. He'll be allowed to find his feet.
"I also think it's very interesting the manager asked John Terry and a couple of other defenders: 'How do you find playing against Falcao?' They were raving about his movement and that's something you don't lose.
"I don't think if you have that kind of quality that you obviously had, not for one year, for a lot of years he was a top player - one of the best strikers in the world.
"What has he lost in three years? Half-a-yard. He might get that back."
If you go back three years and asked 10 serious football people if they want to take Diego Costa or Falcao, to a man they would have taken Falcao. He was up there with the very, very best three years ago.
Tune in to Sky Sports 1 at 10pm on Friday evening to see Thierry Henry, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness look ahead to the new season in a special preview show, or head to the Sky Sports Facebook page to watch it now.
