Robin van Persie hands in a transfer request at Manchester United..

Mark Lawrenson says Robin van Persie wants to leave Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has suggested that Robin van Persie has handed in a transfer request at Manchester United.

Lawrenson, who now works as a pundit for Match of the Day, made the claim on an Irish radio station whilst discussing United’s poor recent form.

He then added that he’d been told about Van Persie’s desire to leave Old Trafford – and that the Dutchman had asked for a transfer earlier in the week.

Robin van Persie has been linked with Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)

‘There’s all sorts of rumours coming out of the training ground at the minute,’ said Lawrenson.

‘I know one or two of the press boys that cover Manchester United, and they were saying there are whispers that Van Persie might have asked for a transfer the other night.’

The surprise news comes just weeks after David Moyes was forced to deny claims that he had fallen out with Van Persie in training, after they were pictured rowing during a session.

The former Arsenal captain has recently been linked with Real Madrid.