Robin van Persie believes that Manchester United have no excuses if they fail to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.

United's outlay during the summer transfer window was said to be in the region of £150m, with the likes of Angel di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao - on a season-long loan - joining the Old Trafford club.

Consequently, Van Persie says that the Red Devils - without Champions League football this term - have to yield a tangible reward for manager Louis van Gaal's spending spree.

"We have to make at least the top four. That's a realistic target but it's still early in the season," he told Sky Sports News. "We are here, everybody wants to win every game, every training session and even if we are playing a different kind of game like table tennis.

"We are winners. We are not here just to set low standards. We want them to be as high as possible, winning games and winning trophies.

"This year we have a great manager, great staff, great fans so when you look at everything together it makes it hard [not to be in the Champions League]. Everything is in place to be up there competing with the very best teams. I think we can do it and we will."

Van Persie netted the second goal as United beat West Ham United 2-1 on Saturday for just their second win of the Premier League season.