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Van Persie: United can learn a lot from Klopp

Former striker Robin van Persie says Manchester United have suffered as a club by gambling on star names.

The former Arsenal and United striker pointed to the signings of Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, while comparing the Red Devils' procurement policy to that of rivals Liverpool.

Pogba's form has fluctuated since his £89.3 million move back to United from Juventus in 2016, scoring an impressive 16 goals in the 2018-19 season before spending most of this season on the sidelines.

Sanchez, who netted just five times in 45 games for Man Utd, will have two years remaining on his £300 000-a-week contract when he returns to Old Trafford from a season-long loan at Inter Milan, but it is expected that the club will do their best to offload him.

Those two players have cost the Red Devils millions in fees and wages with little return and Van Persie thinks Man Utd need to move away from that "risky" transfer policy.

Van Persie told So Foot: "If you compare it to Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp was appointed and players were selected who fit in with the football philosophy, not from marketing motives.

"They built the club on a coach's sporting project. At Manchester United they gamble on star names like Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez.

"That's one way. It is risky. If such a player gets injured or does not fit, the whole team is vulnerable.

"While having a philosophy like Liverpool and not Manchester United creates enormous collective power. The challenge for Manchester United is to see if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can successfully establish a philosophy of his own."

- TEAMtalk media

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