Chelsea on alert as Radamel Falcao to be sold just weeks after joining AS Monaco

Tax issues for the Ligue 1 side mean their spending could become a problem.

AS Monaco could be forced to sell £51m striker Radamel Falcao weeks after signing the Colombian due to financial constraints being forced on the Principality club, according to Marca.

Monaco have just returned to Ligue 1 after winning the second tier in French football, but under the ownership of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev the side have been given huge funds and signed the likes of Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez.

Yet controversy has risen in France due to the advantage Monaco have over the 19 other teams in the league, due to the team being based in the tax haven of Monte Carlo.

Laws in the Principality mean that stars such as Falcao can be paid a wage with extremely minimal tax, unlike the high percentage for teams that play in France – giving Les Rouges et Blanc an unfair advantage.

“The advantage is huge in being able to convince huge players like Falcao to move to the club,” French journalist Cyrille Haddouche of Le Figaro newspaper was quoted by the BBC.

“So the tax advantage that Monaco has is considered as unfair [by the clubs], especially in a period of economic difficulties for all clubs except Paris Saint-Germain.

“For example, former winners of the league, Lyon and Lille, must now sell players in order to reach break even.”

Monaco could be forced to pay either €100m in compensation or move the club out of the Principality to adhere to the tax rules for the rest of Ligue 1.

Either way would be financially crippling for the side and it could mean that big money transfer Falcao would have to be the fall guy.

With Chelsea having previously shown interest in the Colombian, this could come as music to manager Jose Mourinho’s ears, with the goal-scoring credentials of the 27-year-old meaning the forward could solve the attacking problems the Blues currently have.