When a frontman is dubbed 'El Tigre', the player in question is rightly feared by defenders across the world. Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao is regularly associated with the nickname as a result of his striking prowess during his respective stints in Portugal and now Spain.
The Colombia international already has 26 goals to his name this campaign for Los Rojiblancos as Diego Simeone's side look on course to secure a top three finish in the Primera Division this season and with it, a place in the Champions League next year.
Falcao has been at the forefront of their push for a place amongst Europe's elite next season, having netted 44.8% of Atletico's 58 La Liga goals this campaign, the latest of which came in the first 10 minutes during the recent 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid.
Such have been his exploits for the Madrid side both this and last season - in which time he has netted 50 times in the league - that it's no surprise to see Manchester City and Chelsea amongst his potential suitors, with the latter supposedly having agreed a deal to sign the striker when the summer transfer window opens, aptly coinciding with the rumoured return of Jose Mourinho.
As Chelsea go in hunt of a striker that can replicate the exploits of former charge Didier Drogba - the Ivorian departing Stamford Bridge last summer - they have relied on the attacking deficiencies of Fernando Torres and the striking capabilities of Demba Ba. The latter of the duo only arrived in January, and has seen the goalscoring form that made him a fan favourite with Newcastle United all but dessert him, with his Premier League goals per game rate this season dropping from 0.65 with the Magpies to 0.18 at Chelsea.
With Torres' Chelsea figure (0.22) bettering that of the Senegal international, albeit marginally, it's understandable that the Blues are keen to add a striker that can lead the frontline to to a higher standard than the club's current striking duo.
Chelsea as a collective this season have created a total of 51 clear cut opportunities and with that many chances mustered, you'd expect the striking pairing to have a substantially higher goalscoring record as a result. While that figure may place them behind Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal in the rankings, it's still enough for the pairing to contribute more than nine of the 68 Premier League goals the club have netted this season.
Atletico Madrid have created 63 clear cut chances - 12 more than Chelsea - this term, but those extra chances alone cannot account for the 17 more goals the frontman has scored for his side than his Chelsea counterparts have scored for theirs.
Of Chelsea's 51 big chances created, 28 were from players that would regularly play in the three man attacking midfield behind the striker - Eden Hazard, Juan Mata (both 11), Victor Moses and Oscar (both 3) - with the onus on capitalising upon their creative capabilities, something Torres and Ba have regularly failed to do.
Despite Atletico creating more clear cut chances, only 22 came from players that would operate behind the front pairing of Falcao and Diego Costa - Koke (11), Gabi, Christian Rodriguez (both 4) and Raul Garcia (3) - and it's further evident that the Colombian can put the opportunities presented to him to good use. However, there is the argument that he brings team-mates into the game less often having created just two clear cut chances compared to the combined efforts of Torres and Ba, who have four apiece.
Yet, the ideal striker is there to score goals rather than create, especially in the system in which Chelsea operate and the creative influence of the likes of Mata, Hazard and Oscar behind the lone striker and, as things stand, Falcao performs that role to the highest standard available to him.
This is further highlighted in the prolificacy when comparing the trio's ability in netting a goalscoring opportunity. Falcao may have missed more clear cut chances (15) this season compared to Torres (9) and Ba (5) at Chelsea with their respective club, but the Colombian has netted more (23) than he's missed, a record that neither Torres (3) nor Ba (1) can boast.
This season alone he's scored 24 of his goals from inside the 18 yard box, the third tally highest across Europe's top 5 leagues behind Cristiano Ronaldo (26) and Lionel Messi (38). Compared with Torres (7) and Ba (2), Falcao has actually scored a lower proportion of his goals from inside the area (92.3%) than either of the Chelsea pairing (both 100%).
This further highlights the need for a player prolific inside the box in the system, and while Drogba only scored five for the Blues last term - all of which came in the 18 yard box incidentally - the signings of Hazard and Oscar over the summer aided in bolstering the club's creativity, an improved facet - 47 clear cut opportunities created last season compared to the 51 this - that the striker would undoubtedly thrive upon.
Granted, Chelsea may have scored 58 goals from inside the area last season - four better off than this season, albeit with four games remaining - but with Torres and Ba both misfiring in a Chelsea shirt this year, the need for another frontman, prolific from close range, is an apparent necessity for the west London side and is a strength of Falcao's game that would undoubtedly swing in the favour of the striker and, if reports are to be believed, it won't be long before 'El Tigre' is prowling the plains of the opposition 18 yard box in a Blues shirt.
He is unstoppable when he's in good form. But lets be honest - knowing his abilities, I have to say he plays shit for like 3-4 months, maybe even more. He needs some change. His style of play would make him prolific goalscorer at Chelsea, with help from midfield magicians Mata, Hazard and Oscar (who will propably play better next season).
Chelsea needs Falcao, but Falcao also needs Chelsea..he hasn't been the same player since he netted five against La Coruña. In spite of scoring pretty regularly it's been months since his last world class performance, and he doesn't get too much back from the team either. If he stays at ATM he might never be the same again. Chelsea is the perfect club for him. And if Mourinho goes there even better.
best 9 in the world
I just hope he can be as prolific wherever he ends up. I'd hate to lose such a dominant and role model striker.