Reports: Manchester United to offer new contract to Robin van Persie in January

Robin van Persie after scoring the equalizer against Chelsea on 26 October

Manchester United will open talks with their star striker Robin van Persie on a two-year contract extension in January, according to reports. The planned deal will ensure the ‘Flying Dutchman’ will stay on at the club till 2018, by when he shall reach the age of 34.

The Red Devils usually offer rolling 12-month extensions to players in their early 30s but are prepared to make an exception for Van Persie by adding another two years to his current deal, which expires at the end of next season.

It is believed that the 31-year-old's existing £250,000-a-week salary package will remain intact until 2016, but provided he agrees to the new deal, could decrease by as much as £100,000-a-week over the final two years as he gradually earns veteran status at Old Trafford.

“3 goals in 9 matches not good enough”: Van Persie

Van Persie has admitted this week to being disappointed with his current form, and whether he agrees to stay on for longer than current coach Louis van Gaal is a big question. He has previously stated that he would like to end his career in his native country, The Netherlands.

There have been interest professed in attaining his services from other quarters as well.

There was some speculation on his future destinations during last season, on which occasion he had told United’s matchday programme, “The truth is I’m very happy here at this club. I signed for four years and I’d be delighted to stay even longer, beyond the next two years I have left on my contract."

However, times have changed and a future at the Manchester club is not as rosy a prospect as it was when Van Persie came on board at Sir Alex Ferguson’s call.

It is interesting to note that despite his current run of poor form, his club still consider Van Persie valuable enough to not allow him to enter the last year of his contract with question marks hanging on his future.