Paul Merson advises Chelsea to buy Radamel Falcao

Ex-England international Paul Merson has expressed his belief that Chelsea should try to sign Radamel Falcao from AS Monaco this summer.

The Colombian is currently on loan at Manchester United but has suffered an injury-hit, miserable season, finding the net on just four occasions.

United have an option to sign Falcao permanently at the end of his loan for £43m but they are expected to decline, which will send him back to Monaco with an uncertain future.

Merson told Sky Sports News: "If he went down to £15m then I think there would be a lorry load of teams after him. He is a good player and I think he'll get fitter and fitter.

"He hasn't really had a season, he has only been in and out. He needs to play 20 games and then I think he'll be back to where was when, for me, he was one of the best centre forwards in world football."

Merson thinks that Chelsea need an extra striker if they are going to progress next season, as Diego Costa is too injury prone.

He added: "Whatever happens next season, to be successful in the Premier League and in Europe, they need another centre forward badly, because when Costa hasn't played they've missed him."

Falcao was regularly linked with Chelsea before he joined Monaco in 2013.