Chelsea and Real Madrid left shocked at Monaco's valuation of striker Falcao

With reports linking summer signing Radamel Falcao away from Monaco, Claudio Ranieri has joined the number of managers recently using Gareth Bale as an indicator of how much their player could cost other teams.

It has become common for managers and chairmen alike to state, that ‘If Gareth Bale goes for €100 million, then my player is worth…’. Ranieri is no different, this time warning Chelsea and Real Madrid that Radamel Falcao could cost in the region of €200m if they want to sign him, according to the Metro.

‘If Gareth Bale is €100m then how much is Falcao? He is €200m [£168m],’ said Ranieri.

Both sides were thought to be looking for a new striker in the summer and with Mourinho still unable to find some form from any of his current strikers it would be no surprise to see him make a move for the lethal Colombian.

Falcao has scored seven goals in just nine Ligue 1 matches so far this season and his clinical finishing would certainly find itself welcome in the Chelsea side as none of Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o or Fernando Torres have scored a league goal this season.

Radamel Falcao’s hasn’t taken long to get firing at Monaco

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Although he only moved to Monaco in the summer and has helped them to an unbeaten start to the season, he is reportedly unhappy after the club are facing the prospect of having to use France’s socialist tax system rather than Monaco’s. This would see Falcao lose nearly half (41%) of his wages due to his excessive salary and something he feels differs from the contract when he agreed to sign for the newly promoted club.

Lukaku has had no problem settling in at Everton

Chelsea, along with Real Madrid, have been monitoring the situation and could make a move for their man in January if none have their current crop of strikers have made the starting spot their own. However, some Chelsea fans may be dismayed by the club’s desire to spend so much money on another striker when they have a player like Romelu Lukaku impressing out on loan.