Robin Van Persie: Why Manchester United Should Not Offer Striker a New Contract

Speculation over Robin van Persie's Manchester United contract has emerged this season, and with the striker's current deal expiring in 2016, manager Louis van Gaal should consider not offering extended terms.

Van Persie cast doubts over his future recently, with BBC Sport reporting his words, by suggesting: "It is not up to me—for the moment I am staying here for another 18 months.

"That is it really. I can't look into the future. I don't know what is going to happen after that," Van Persie continued. "We shall have to wait and see."

While Van Persie's future remains unclear, United have clearly not yet offered a new contract.

The striker has been a valuable asset to the club since his £24 million transfer in 2012, but at 31 years old and, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk, with a considerable injury history, Van Persie is on the wane.

When they have evaluated the situation rationally, United should come to the conclusion that Van Persie should not be offered a new contract at Old Trafford.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Fading Talent?

On form, Van Persie remains a devastating attacking talent, able to despatch sides with clinical finishing and incisive build-up play.

Unfortunately however, the striker's form is diminishing as the years go by, and his overall contribution to United's fortunes will continue to fade as Van Gaal looks to nurture his side to success in the future.

The perfect way to visualise Van Persie's fading attacking talent is by charting his record of goals scored in recent Premier League seasons:

	Games per Goal	Minutes per Goal
14/15	2.5	207
13/14	1.75	132
12/13	1.46	120
11/12	1.27	111
10/11	1.39	98

Van Persie's record of games per goal and minutes per goal respectively has dropped markedly in the last five years.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Over 38 games in 2011/12 for Arsenal the striker hit 30 goals; his games-per-goal ratio in 10/11 suggests he would have scored 27 goals in a 38-game season if fully fit.

If Van Persie had made 38 league appearances this season, his current average dictates he would have scored 15.

While this is still a decent Premier League record, this explicitly suggests Van Persie is half the striker he was five years ago.

Furthermore, the 31-year-old's creative contribution has dropped significantly in the last five years:

	Games per Assist	Key Passes per Game
14/15	10	1
13/14	7	0.8
12/13	4.2	1.9
11/12	3.8	2.4
10/11	3.6	1.8

Over the past five years, Van Persie's assists record has dropped per season and, while his average of key passes per game has charted a more non-linear fluctuation, his overall output has dropped vastly.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Again, if Van Persie was to make 38 league appearances this season, his current average dictates he would have likely made four assists.

Van Persie is evidently a fading talent, with injuries and age undoubtedly contributing factors in the depreciation of his contribution in terms of goals and assists.

Arguably, this has also affected his ability to contribute in terms of United's style of play, too.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Van Gaal's Style

Van Persie has identified his lack of goals as a deficiency in his game this season, as United have struggled to maintain consistent form in the Premier League.

While they currently sit fourth in the table, the side's rivals are catching up with steady pace.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

"We are not scoring enough goals. Everyone feels responsible. I do, definitely," Van Persie said. "I want to score more. I will do everything, every day in training and during the games. I will keep doing what I have been doing for the last 10 years to make those goals."

Van Gaal is still encountering teething problems as he looks to engineer a side in his image at United and, as they struggle for goals, the manager is attempting to find solutions for this.

This has included utilising £59.7 million attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria in a striker's role alongside Van Persie.

This was a decision criticised heavily by former United midfielder Paul Scholes, who wrote for The Independent: "Van Persie has a great touch but defenders can afford to get tight to him because they don’t have to worry about him spinning off for the ball dropped in behind them."

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

"Di Maria has the pace but is not a centre-forward," Scholes continued.

Van Gaal, however, defended his tactical approach, via BBC Sport, by claiming: "I tried [Di Maria] as a striker as we needed pace in that position. We must stretch the pitch."

In short, Van Persie is no longer able to stretch the pitch with any pace.

If United are to use him, they need to surround him with younger, faster models like Di Maria.

But with United still struggling, and Di Maria arguably more effective in a deeper role, perhaps it is time to consider an upgrade on Van Persie?

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Chance for Rejuvenation

Di Maria's testament, via ManUtd.com, to this new system is the most stark in terms of the need for an unsentimental appraisal of Van Gaal's current talents:

"

There are some people saying that we're not playing in a particularly good style or that it's not the old Manchester United—but it's not. We're beginning something new here. We've got a new style, we've got a new manager and we're all working hard to make sure we're putting Manchester United back where it belongs.

"

United do play with a new style, and Van Gaal is clearly trying to ingrain this even further—even if it means playing record signings out of position.

On the signing of Van Persie, the Mail's Joe Bernstein declared the striker as "an expensive leaving present for [Sir Alex] Ferguson."

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Bernstein continued to described this gift as "one that he will be expected to utilise by making United the best team in Europe before he hands over to Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola."

Instead of a transitional aid, Van Persie represented more of a golden handshake for Ferguson, the player that would secure him a final Premier League title before his retirement.

Van Persie is now at odds with his new manager's system.

With a 2016 contract expiry looming, Van Gaal must resist the urge to extend the deal of a striker he had previously built his Netherlands side around and opt for an option more in keeping with this "new style."

Robin van Persie's contract situation should represent to manager Louis van Gaal the opportunity to remould his side away from the lingering elements of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign and into an all-conquering force in his own image.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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