Louis van Gaal should make Arjen Robben his first signing at Manchester United and team Holland star with Robin van Persie

  • Bayern Munich winger scored twice as Holland beat Spain 5-1 on Friday night
  • Van Persie also bagged a brace during emphatic victory in Salvador
  • New United boss Van Gaal could look to reunite the pair at Old Trafford next season

By Craig Hope

Published: 06:38 EST, 14 June 2014 | Updated: 08:02 EST, 14 June 2014

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal need not look beyond his own Holland squad when it comes to drawing up a list of World Cup transfer targets.

For residing within his camp is the one player his new employers are craving. Arjen Robben is the man Van Gaal should elevate to the top of his wish list.

For a winger boasting the Dutchman’s devastating ability to score, create and terrorise was sadly lacking at Old Trafford last season.

Dutch delight: Will Louis van Gaal (right), Robin van Persie (left) and Arjen Robben (second left) be reunited at Old Trafford next season?

Dutch delight: Will Louis van Gaal (right), Robin van Persie (left) and Arjen Robben (second left) be reunited at Old Trafford next season?

Dutch destroyers: Robin van Persie embraces Arjen Robben on a superb night for Holland

Dutch destroyers: Robin van Persie embraces Arjen Robben on a superb night for Holland

Finish: Sergio Ramos can't get close enough as Robben fires home his first

Finish: Sergio Ramos can't get close enough as Robben fires home his first

The best 11: Two-goal Robben was outstanding during the 5-1 mauling of Spain

The best 11: Two-goal Robben was outstanding during the 5-1 mauling of Spain

 

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United are set to significantly invest in a playing squad which slumped to seventh in the Premier League and Robben makes perfect sense; comrade Robin van Persie will no doubt agree.

You only have to look to Friday night’s 5-1 mauling of Spain and his two-goal show as evidence of the star quality so badly needed by the fallen champions.

The 30-year-old was at his unforgiving finest against the World Cup holders. The goal which handed Holland a second-half lead owed everything to Robben’s pace, panache and potency – his turn of foot winning the yard to steal in behind a static Spanish backline, his touch to kill the lofted throughball a thing of beauty and his finish as lethal as any centre-forward could ever produce.

His second, however, managed to better all of that, burning by Sergio Ramos on halfway before rounding a forlorn Iker Casillas and smashing into the top corner in uncompromising fashion. He was then denied a hat-trick when his stunning volley was repelled by Casillas late on.

It was breathtaking stuff and served as a reminder as to the talents of the former Chelsea wideman, now on the books of Bayern Munich and man-of-the-match against United during last season’s Champions League quarter-final victory.

United striker Van Persie had earlier bagged a brace of his own in the Group B opener and the prospect of that pair teaming up in Manchester is a mouth-watering one.

Head boy: Robin van Persie hurls himself through the air to score a stunning equaliser

Head boy: Robin van Persie hurls himself through the air to score a stunning equaliser

Challenge: Van Gaal needs to get Van Persie to replicate his form for Holland at club level next season

Challenge: Van Gaal needs to get Van Persie to replicate his form for Holland at club level next season

The Spaniards could not live with their movement and ingenuity and, with one of Van Gaal’s prime objectives being to revitalise his skipper at club level, the presence of Robben would no doubt aid such recovery.

Holland’s success rests on the brilliance of the duo and, on early viewing, the unfancied Dutch might just emerge as the surprise package in Brazil.

That could give Van Gaal an extra fortnight to work his powers of persuasion on Robben and convince him that a new challenge awaits back in England.

Robben is very much a disciple of his manager – he joined Bayern under Van Gaal’s charge in 2009 – but will he follow one more time?

 

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Comments (9)

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Flying Dutchman...

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Ah so today Robben is their top target eh? Can't wait til after the weekend to find out who their top taget will be then!

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It was inevitable the link would be made by the DM, surprised it took this long to be honest

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Bayern will not sell him. Why do Man Utd fans think they even have a chance of getting any of Bayern's good players?

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no chance of utd getting him. why wvwn bother writing it on the site.

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This one again? Robben wouldn't be foolish enough to leave a side like Bayern for United.

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Sorry for 5PA1N as I dislike the Dutch very much. Hope Argentina will stop the Dutch and Brazil. Also would not be sad if Germany won. Wonderful ,straightforward- what you see is what you get -people, great sportsmen and the final Argentina - Germany would be a dream.

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This ain't FIFA, Mr. Hope! -_-

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Except the player has already said he's staying at Bayern Munchen... Move along DM...

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Why would he drop down to play for a mid table team?

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