Offloading Van Persie this summer will help Manchester United

 Van Persie is falling from the peaks of his first season at Manchester United, when he scored 30 goals and led the Red Devils to the Premier League summit. Injuries and loss of form have hindered van Persie over the last two seasons

, and the veteran striker’s Old Trafford career could be coming to a close. “Manager (Louis) Van Gaal is said to be ready to ditch his fellow Dutchman, with the Old Trafford giants willing to listen to offers for the 31-year-old forward,” the Mirror claims. “With just one more full season left on his contract, United have made no moves to extend Van Persie’s deal by a further 12 months, with a view to a summer sale.” Van Persie has scored 10 goals in 26 games in all competitions this season. But he has missed Manchester United’s last five games because of an ankle injury, and the Red Devils have been on a fine winning run without him. Van Gaal has deployed Wayne Rooney in his favored center forward’s role in van Persie’s absence, and many expect the Manchester United captain to remain in his post when his teammate returns from injury. Van Persie is one of Manchester United’s highest earners, and selling him would would represent a sound business decision if he remains on the outskirts of the starting lineup. Van Persie turns 32 in August, and there is doubt whether he can return to the heights of a few years ago. Manchester United paid £24 million ($35.5 million) to sign van Persie from Arsenal in 2012. It remains to be seen how much of that fee Manchester United could recoup this summer. Inter Milan and Juventus are interested in signing van Persie this summer, according to the Mail. Barcelona, PSG and Real Madrid also could be in the market for a striker this summer, broadening the list of potential suitors for van Persie.

According to whoscored.com rating after Manchester United match against Arsenal at Old Trafford last sunday, 

Subbed off for Robin van Persie in United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, Falcao appeared to be waving his goodbyes to the Old Trafford faithful. It was a move that did not pan out as expected, and one supporters had hoped would bare considerably more fruit. Nevertheless, as quiet as Falcao was kept by the Gunners backline at the weekend, he at least pressed the opposition defence at any given opportunity, in the process not allowing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny a chance to settle.  

This disrupted Arsenal’s game, meaning they struggled to play out from the back for the opening hour. Van Persie’s introduction, though, changed that. As ineffective as Falcao was, his Dutch teammate was more so. Only Tyler Blackett (5.69), who inadvertently turned a Theo Walcott cross into his own net, gained a worse WhoScored rating of all players in the fixture than Van Persie (5.92). During his 30 minutes on the pitch, the striker touched the ball just 9 times. His lack of impact effectively gifted Arsenal a way back into a game that had seemed lost having been second best for much of the encounter. 

These are The Dutch man's charateristics according to whoscored.com

His goal contribution to the attack has dwindled over the past 3 seasons, with a goal every 211.4 minutes this campaign his worst since signing for United, though it is not for lack of trying. Van Persie may be averaging fewer shots per game this season (2.8) than in the last two years (3.7 in the 2012/13 season, 3 in the 2013/14 season), but the 31-year-old has still had ample opportunities to consistently hit the back of the net for United this term. 

Van Persie’s cameo against Arsenal on Sunday was the epitome of a player devoid of confidence and lacking the necessary attributes to succeed under Van Gaal at Old Trafford. Granted, the striker performed admirably at Brazil 2014 with the 63-year-old at the Netherlands helm, but a change in tack from Van Gaal has seen Van Persie become marginalised for United. 

Falcao was the striker who looked to be saying his goodbyes as he departed the Old Trafford pitch at the weekend. However, after a lacklustre campaign and a failure to adhere to the possession-based system implemented by Van Gaal suggests, Van Persie, like Falcao, would be wise to bid his farewells sooner rather than later.