Kanchelskis: Manchester United and Liverpool Target Yevhen Konoplyanka is Like Arjen Robben

Former Manchester United and Everton winger Andrei Kanchelskis believes Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Yevhen Konoplyanka is a player similar to Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben.

The 24-year-old winger has been linked with summer moves to the Red Devils, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks. Incoming United manager Louis van Gaal reportedly wants to sign four players before the World Cup concludes next month and Konoplyanka is believed to be one of them.

The former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern boss is believed to be keen on bringing Robben to Old Trafford but the Dutch international insisted that he was happy with the reigning Bundesliga champions. However, Kanchelskis wants Van Gaal to sign Konoplyanka if he is indeed keen on signing someone who is equally talented as his compatriot.

"Yevhen is a good player and he would be good for United. To me he is like Arjen Robben. He is similar to him and if that is the kind of player Louis van Gaal likes then why not go for Konoplyanka?" Kanchelskis told the Manchester Evening News.

"If you are looking for a quick winger then Konoplyanka is not that. He is not a real winger as such. But he is technically very good, he has good skills and he has a good shot on him. He likes to come more into the central midfield areas and does like to get a hit on goal."

The Ukrainian international had been on Liverpool's radar last January but a move failed to materialise as the transfer window slammed shut.

However, Kanchelskis reveals that if Konoplyanka does consider his suggestion about which Premier League club to move to if he were to leave Dnipro in the summer, then the 20-time English champions will be his only answer.

"If he were to ask me what to do then, of course, I would say that he had to go to Manchester United. It would be great to see another Ukrainian at Old Trafford. I hope it happens for Yevhen," Kanchelskis stressed.

"He definitely has to give Old Trafford a go if the opportunity arises. It is the biggest club in the world. It is a great club with great fans. You cannot afford to turn that down. You only get one chance to join Manchester United and you have to take it. If any player from Russia or Ukraine asked me then I would tell them it is a must," the 45-year-old concluded.