AS Monaco are once again ready to flex their substantial financial muscle by offering a staggering €70 million for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao and Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

The French club have only just secured promotion back to Ligue 1 but Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev has promised to provide €200m for transfers as he attempts to build a club once again capable of challenging for major honours in France.

Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao is expected to leave Atletico Madrid after another impressive goal scoring season in Spain. [Reuters]

Monaco have already signed Porto pair Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez for €70m and it seems they are once again going to disappoint a number of Premier League clubs by snapping up two more highly sought players.

Valdes had been linked with Arsenal on several occasions over the course of the last few months after the Barcelona keeper revealed that he would not be renewing his contract with the Spanish champions.

With Arsenal planning for a summer of spending it was reported that the north London club would attempt to sign Valdes after Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianki both failed to hold down a regular spot in the first team.

However, it now seems as though Arsenal will have to look elsewhere if they want to sign a goalkeeper as Marca reports that Valdes was in Monaco on Monday to discuss terms with the Ligue 1 side.

Victor Valdes
Victor Valdes has refused to sign a new contract at Barcelona and is expected to leave this summer. [Reuters]

Valdes was joined in the French principality by Falcao who had himself been linked with a move to London. The Colombian striker was said to be a target for Chelsea after another impressive season for Atletico.

The 27 year old scored 28 league goals and was believed to be a genuine target for Chelsea who struggled to get the best from their own former Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.

But it now seems as though Chelsea will also have to look elsewhere as Marca reports that Falcao will have a medical later today after Monaco submitted a €60m bid to Atletico.

Should Monaco manage to complete deals for the pair then it would be another major statement of intent from the French side who are determined to quickly establish themselves as a major force in Ligue 1.

It is less than a decade ago that they were competing in a Champions League final and they will be desperate to once again qualify for Europe's premier competition.