Fulham boss compares Van Persie to Ibrahimovic

Fulham manager Martin Jol has compared compatriot Robin van Persie to Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and is convinced the former will lead Manchester United to the Premier League title this season.

Van Persie joined Manchester United from Arsenal last summer in a £24 million transfer, and has scored 22 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions since his arrival at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old Dutch striker has been credited with providing Manchester United with the extra dimension required to usurp Manchester City and, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side nine points clear of their rivals, things are going perfectly to plan.

Van Persie may not have been on the scoresheet in the weekend victory against Fulham - with Wayne Rooney netting the decisive goal - but, with the former Arsenal captain as the team's focal point, Jol senses Manchester United will become unstoppable.

Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, has supplied Paris Saint-Germain with the impetus required to take them to the next level - just as he did with Juventus, Inter and AC Milan - and Jol sees Van Persie having a similar impact with Manchester United.

"Van Persie is the main man," Jol told reporters following the weekend encounter. 

"He sets them up with little flicks and combination football and he also scores the most goals.

"He scores over 30 goals a season and will be top scorer again, as he was last year. He is like Zlatan. Wherever he goes, they will be champions. Van Persie has that quality."