Champions Man City would give Arsenal star massive wage hike
Published:Robin Van Persie will open talks with Arsenal over a new contract this week, but Manchester City hope to scupper the proceedings with a £25million bid for the Gunners captain.
Van Persie admitted to reporters on Sunday that he will speak with his manager Arsene Wenger regarding a new deal, though fans of the North London club fear he will declare his intention to leave.
Manchester United and Juventus are interested in the 37-goal striker, but it is newly-crowned Premier League champions City who are thought to lead the chase for the Dutchman.
With only a year remaining on his Arsenal contract, Wenger may have a very difficult decision to make regarding the 28-year-old’s future.
The Frenchman could opt to keep his talismanic captain for one final year, though with that would come the risk of losing Van Persie for nothing next summer.
Alternatively, he could choose to cash in now, and knowing he cannot match City’s financial power in contract negotiations, he may take the £25million they are reportedly willing to pay for the striker’s services.
Should he move, Van Persie would become the latest in a string of former Arsenal talent to join the Eastlands revolution, as Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure all landed Premier League winners’ medals this weekend.
He would become the best paid of those players too, and would more than treble his current wages should he link up with Roberto Mancini,, afforded an astronomical £250,000 per week.
Whilst some remain hopeful that Van Persie will show a greater loyalty to Arsenal than the likes of Nasri have done, others read between the lines of his quotes on Sunday to believe he is primed for a move.
Van Persie declared to BBC Sport that, “I will love Arsenal whatever happens,” and so may be paving his way for an Emirates exit.
