Radamel Falcao could stay at Manchester United if he is willing to accept bench role as Louis van Gaal leaves the door open 

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has left the door open for Radamel Falcao to stay at the club.

However, any deal would depend on the Colombian accepting he would not be a regular starter and United renegotiating the terms of his transfer with his parent club Monaco.

Van Gaal does not like senior strikers spending too much time on the bench and sold Danny Welbeck to Arsenal and allowed Javier Hernandez to join Real Madrid on loan last August for that reason.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has left the door open for Radamel Falcao to stay at the club

Falcao has struggled at United since joining on loan from Monaco and he was poor against Chelsea last week

Van Gaal does not like senior strikers spending too much time on the bench but will not give up on Falcao

But though Falcao has scored only four goals following a much-hyped loan move from Monaco on transfer deadline day in September, the Dutchman won’t give up on him yet.

United are not obliged to decide his future until May, though Van Gaal would only make the move permanent if the player and Monaco reduce their demands.

Falcao currently earns £265,000 a week and Monaco want a £43million fee if United decide to keep him.

Van Gaal first wants to assess whether Falcao, regarded as one of the world’s top strikers until suffering a serious knee injury last year, would be able to handle another year where he would be primarily a substitute rather than a regular starter.

‘A player cannot be out of the line-up season after season,’ the manager said. ‘You need the challenge as a player. That is why I said to Welbeck and Chicharito, goodbye.’

Van Gaal let Danny Welbeck leave United to join Arsenal because he could not continue to leave him out

Javier Hernandez was also allowed to leave on loan to join Real Madrid, who he scored for this week

Falcao is likely to be involved in United’s game at Everton today after leading the line in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea but faces extra competition with Robin van Persie fit again after an ankle injury.

Van Persie plans to stay at Old Trafford next season and fight for his place, having dismissed the idea that the club want him to leave.

The Holland striker has a year left on his contract and Inter and Galatasaray are expected to make enquiries for him this summer.

Robin van Persie plans to stay at Old Trafford next season and fight for his place with a year on his contract