Latest Radamel Falcao injury could end up preventing Chelsea offloading striker in January

Falcao, 29, has struggled for form and fitness at Stamford Bridge after signing on a season-long loan deal - making just one start in the Premier League and notching one goal as he frustrated the club's former manager Jose Mourinho with his persistent injury problems.

According to reports the Blues had hoped to remove the Colombian from the wage bill in January - either by allowing him to return to parent club Real Madrid for the remainder of the season or, if preferable, by allowing the French side to loan the forward on to another European team.

However, Falcao suffered another injury in training last week that is set to keep him out until the end of January, preventing him from proving his fitness to any potential suitors and making it increasingly likely he will have to remain at Stamford Bridge.

"Falcao played in a (training) game and he had the injury again that he had before to the inside of his thigh," Hiddink revealed after Sunday's win over Crystal Palace. "Our medical staff tried to build him up but he had a setback which is not a positive signal.

"We hope within 10 days he might be fit again but not ready to play."

Chelsea are paying Falcao's full wages during his time at the club, believed to be in the region of £140,000-a-week. Over the rest of the season, that adds up to an additional £3.3m - a sum the club were perhaps hoping to save on a player who has struggled to make any tangible impact on the side.