Former Netherlands international Johnny Rep has suggested that Memphis Depay will be consigned to life on the substitutes' bench should he join Manchester United in the summer.
The 21-year-old's current club PSV Eindhoven confirmed on Sunday that an enquiry has been made by the Red Devils over luring the talented youngster to Old Trafford, with a deal worth around £25m expected to be placed on the table.
However, Rep has warned his countryman against joining the Premier League giants, and instead wants him to spend another season developing in his current surroundings.
"The top clubs in Europe have such great squads," he told Dutch paper De Telegraaf. "With competition like this, the chances are pretty high that you get little playing time.
"Just look at a striker in the form of Radamel Falcao at Manchester United. Depay has the ability to go far and I also believe that Van Gaal would let him play football. But it would be a shame if he ends up somewhere on the bench. So I advise him to stay for another year at PSV."
Depay has scored 20 goals in 27 league games this season to make him the top scorer in the Eredivisie.