Manchester City are preparing to make a £30 million swoop for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie should contract talks break down between the Dutchman and the club.
According to the Daily Mail, van Persie has been left disillusioned after seeing star players such as Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri depart this summer, with no fresh talks over a new deal in the pipeline.
Despite scoring twice in the 3-0 win over Bolton on Saturday, bringing up a century of goals for the Gunners, van Persie’s contract runs out in 2013 making it possible the club will consider to sell next summer should he refuse to sign a new deal.
‘He has grown well into the captain’s role, said Arsene Wenger after Saturday’s win. ‘He is a man who speaks his mind and is doing the job well.’
Van Persie has been loyal to the north London outfit in the past, but Arsenal’s well documented inability to win trophies are proving to be a factor with the Dutchman’s only success at the club being the 2005 FA Cup win.
His contract, reportedly worth £80,000 a week, makes him one of the top earners at the club, and Wenger will undoubtedly want to keep hold of his talismanic captain as he leads the recovery charge after a poor start to the season.
