Robin van Persie: Manchester United 'prepared to sell' Netherlands international

Dutchman could be surplus to requirements

Robin van Persie will no longer take penalties for United (AFP) (AFP)

Manchester United are reportedly open to selling Robin van Persie this summer.

The Netherlands international has become an increasingly peripheral figure under Louis van Gaal and with the squad set to evolve this summer, could be allowed to depart.

Memphis Depay has already been signed from PSV Eindhoven and there are growing suggestions that Radamel Falcao could be kept on beyond his season-long loan spell from Monaco with the Colombian being given more game time of late.

Van Gaal's experiment of playing Wayne Rooney in midfield has also been shown to be less effective than playing the England captain in attack, squeezing room for strikers in the squad.

All of which has led to a feeling Van Persie could be sacrificed, and with the Dutchman set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, selling at the end of the season would allow Manchester United to recoup some of the £24m they paid Arsenal.

Speaking earlier this year Van Persie, who will turn 32 in August, admitted he was uncertain about his future.

“It is not up to me,” he said. “For the moment I am staying here for 18 months. That is it really. I can’t look into the future. I don’t know what is going to happen after that. We shall have to wait and see.”