Manchester United Transfer News: Rumours on Radamel Falcao and 'Next Neymar'

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes Radamel Falcao is "under pressure" because of the financial implications of his move to Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal will decide whether Falcao is worth the £43.2 million fee needed to sign him permanently from Monaco at the end of the season, per Mark Ogden of The Telegraph.

Considering a £6 million loan fee and weekly wages of £265,000 are currently being paid for the Colombian's services, United must have full faith in the misfiring striker before confirming an extended stay.

Saha, whose career at the Theatre of Dreams was blighted by injury, understands what Falcao is going through. While the Frenchman didn't cost anywhere near this amount, he struggled to maintain a consistent run of starts, not too dissimilar to Falcao's season so far. Ogden reported Saha's comments:

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Falcao is under pressure because of his contract. As a striker you want to score, but when there is that amount of money involved, you are under pressure. That pressure is not on a defender for instance, so I have sympathy with Falcao. I have no doubts about him and I know how hard it is to be a striker, but there is always a lot of competition at this club.

"

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Saha also believes "you have to adapt," something Falcao is currently failing to do. The once-prolific striker appears to have lost his physicality and hold-up skills, once again highlighted during his recent performance against League One side Preston North End, in which he failed to register a shot and managed just 24 touches of the ball, per WhoScored.com.

The MailOnline posted a heat map of Falcao's efforts:

Saha believes "it could take three months, six months or maybe a year" before Falcao adapts. He appears to hint Van Gaal should take a chance, however, reported by Ogden:

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It happens to even the best players. It happened for instance to Patrice Evra here. For the first six months, he was struggling because he didn’t seem to understand the physical nature of the game in England, but he eventually changed into a terrific player. But coming back from injury is very hard. It is the hardest time in your life.

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Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Falcao's run of six goals in 19 displays, per WhoScored.com, isn't aided by a United side who have lacked attacking prowess this season. Saha believes "it is easier to come back in" when the team is performing well in front of goal, a feat rarely reached by Van Gaal's men.

United have just 13 Premier League matches left this campaign, as well as an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Arsenal. Once March hits, United's fixture list includes matches with Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal in the domestic standings.

The club desperately needs Falcao to hit a run of goalscoring form heading into these bumper tests which will define whether the club makes next season's Champions League.

It will almost be impossible to look beyond a permanent deal if Falcao thrusts United to a top-four finish, while he stands to become the symbol of disaster if an elite European place isn't secured.

A permanent deal for Falcao could be among the biggest of the summer. B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Matteo Bonetti recently considered other such deals:

Van Gaal may look elsewhere, if reports are to be believed. Fluminense youngster Kenedy, dubbed the "next Neymar" by the Mirror, is being "tracked" by the club, according to Michael Butler of The Guardian.

United have enjoyed previous business dealings with the Brazilian club—signing Rafael and Fabio Da Silva from them in 2008—so could attempt to lure the £5 million-rated striker to England.

Kenedy's qualities can be seen below.

Despite possessing real talent, Kenedy isn't the world-class leader United need up top. A proven force who flaunts incisive pace and a clinical nature should be craved.

As crunch time approaches, it will be interesting to see whether Van Gaal is as forgiving as Saha. The latter knows exactly what it's like to struggle at the club and probably wishes he was afforded more time, something he hints could be worthwhile with Falcao.

This storyline is set to reach a conclusion in the run to May, a period which will have a major impact on both the club and Falcao's futures.