Manchester United must pay straight cash to land Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.Marca says United have paid a downpayment on an eventual £42 million fee for the Colombian ace.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been willing to include Javier Hernandez in their offer, but Atletico so far have insisted on a straight cash deal. The Madrid giants need the readies to balance the books and also fund coach Diego Simeone's own transfer plans.

Interestingly among the powerbrokers in the deal is former United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, who is now working with Falcao's agent Jorge Mendes.