Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning have stepped up their bid to sign Chelsea flop Radamel Falcao in a deal that could see Loic Remy staying at Stamford Bridge.
Falcao has scored just once since joining on a season’s loan from Monaco last summer, with a thigh injury keeping him out of the side since October.
Chelsea hope to end the loan early and Jiangsu Suning are keen to do a deal before the transfer window closes in China on February 26.
Monaco are happy for the striker to move on loan again — as long as Jiangsu pay his wages. He earns about £135,000 a week but that is not a problem for the wealthy Chinese club, who may even try to buy him outright.
Chelsea are on good terms with Jiangsu, having sold midfielder Ramires to them for £25million last month.
Falcao is surplus to requirements at Chelsea. He has not been given a squad number for the knock-out phase of the Champions League, which begins for them next week when they face Paris St Germain in the first leg of the last 16. The Colombia international does not even train with the first-team squad and his departure would mean Chelsea are likely to scupper Remy’s hopes of moving to the Chinese Super League.
Hebei Fortune have bid £15.7m for the France international, while Shanghai Shenua have offered £11m.
Hiddink would prefer to have three strikers for the rest of the season, especially as they still have a chance of winning the FA Cup and Champions League.
Should Remy and Falcao both depart, the Dutchman would be left with just Diego Costa and Alexandre Pato, who is not match fit yet. One Chelsea player not looking to leave for the Far East is midfielder Oscar, who was reportedly subject of a bid worth up to £75m from Jiangsu earlier this month.
Jiangsu are said to be looking to make another attempt in the summer after Chelsea rejected their initial approach. But Oscar, who is also wanted by Juventus, has more than three years left on his contract.
The 24-year-old midfielder said: “I want to stay here for a long time. I want to win more games, more trophies, because I love Chelsea, I love the fans. I like the city, my family like it here.
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