Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao closes in on Old Trafford departure

Radamel Falcao dropped the clearest hint yet that his future lies away from Manchester United after seemingly waving goodbye to supporters following his substitution in the 1-1 Premier league draw with Arsenal.

The Colombia international appeared to bid farewell to supporters in United's last home match of the season after being replaced by Robin van Persie in the 61<sup>st minute in what is expected to be Falcao's final appearance at Old Trafford.

Since joining on a season-long loan deal from Monaco at the end of the summer transfer window, Falcao has looked out of sorts amid a run of form which has seen him net four times in 28 appearances in all competitions.

Reports suggest United would be required to pay £42m to keep Falcao on a permanent basis beyond the end of the campaign and though the club have yet to come to an official decision regarding the 29-year-old's future his poor goal haul suggests Van Gaal could look elsewhere.

Questioned on Falcao seemingly waving goodbye to the United fans while being substituted, Van Gaal said: "I did not observe my players because I was with the fans."

Falcao could become the second high profile departure from United this summer after Van Gaal indicated that goalkeeper David de Gea has a "decision" to make over his future.

With Tyler Blackett's late own goal all-but assuring Arsenal of finishing third and consigning United to a Champions League play-off to reach the group stage of the competition, attention has turned to the potential incomings at the club during the upcoming summer window.

Although Van Gaal has indicated that money is no object in his attempts to bolster his squad, the United boss says the summer window has the potential to be complicated in the search of world-class players.

"You never know," Van Gaal said. "The transfer period is a process and that may be difficult to understand for our fans and that is a process because not every player is available.

"Clubs don't allow their players to go. It's not so easy as everyone is thinking in spite of the great will of our board."