Manchester United Transfer News: Patience Is Key in Radamel Falcao Saga

On-loan striker Radamel Falcao is unsure whether Manchester United will turn his current deal into a permanent transfer at the end of the season, and while the Colombia international is hopeful he will get to stay in England, patience is the key moving forward for all parties involved.

As reported by the Guardian's Jamie Jackson, the 28-year-old striker wants to stay with the club, but he's unsure the Red Devils feel the same way. And if he is to stay, his playing time will have to increase exponentially:

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From my point of view, yes, but obviously I have to analyse the situation, see if I play more and see what decision the board takes. But from my point of view, I really want to stay.

Every footballer wants to play, no one is happy when they are not playing, when they are on the bench, but whenever I am given the opportunity, whether it be for five, 10, 20 or 90 minutes, I have to give my best.

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Injuries and poor form have so far limited the impact of Falcao since his summer move worth £16 million, per Jackson, starting just three Premier League matches and scoring a single goal, via WhoScored.com.

It's unfortunate that persistent injury problems have so far stopped Falcao from truly impressing for the club, but injuries happen to be a part of the game. And since his phenomenal 2012-13 season, they've been a part of Falcao's career as well.

With only two weeks left in 2014, it's safe to say Falcao's permanent stay will largely be determined by his second half of the season. According to the Independent's Jack De Menezes, it would cost United £44 million to keep him at the club beyond the summer of 2015.

As shared by The Peoples Person, the Colombian will need one hell of a showing in the second half of the season to warrant such a fee:

Whether or not Falcao is worth such an investment is debatable. The striker who scored 28 La Liga goals in the 2012-13 campaign, according to WhoScored, would likely have commanded an even bigger sum to make the move from Monaco to Manchester.

But that was two years and a devastating knee injury ago. Right now, Falcao is a 28-year-old, injury-prone forward nearing the end of his prime, who was benched against Liverpool in favour of 19-year-old supertalent James Wilson.

Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe believes the youngster could play a huge rule in whether or not Falcao sticks around beyond next summer:

Amid all of this, the only way forward for all parties involved is patience. Manchester United still haven't seen whether Falcao can return to his glory days from two years ago and live up to the price tag; the striker can't demand playing time in the middle of a six-match winning streak.

It seems doubtful Monaco will hold on to their £44 million valuation of the player given their success without him this season, so depending on what happens over the course of the next few months, some form of compromise should be possible.

But it all begins with the main protagonists: Falcao, who needs to wait for his chance, and Louis van Gaal, who needs to accept he'll have to give the Colombian an extended run in the starting XI to see what he can do.

Bickering, talking and sulking will only lead to a split in June—it's time to get healthy and play, simple as that.

Falcao will have his opportunity to prove he's still a £44 million striker—but he will have to wait.

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