Arsenal remain adamant they will not sell Robin van Persie to Manchester United for less than £25million but the striker is expected to move to Old Trafford this week.
The Gunners are insisting on a £5m premium above their £20m asking price because of their reluctance to lose their captain to a Premier League title rival.
Van Persie had been keen on a switch to Juventus but the match-fixing controversy engulfing the Serie A club — coach Antonio Conte is banned for 10 months for failing to report alleged match-fixing while at Siena — has tempered his enthusiasm and raised doubts as to whether they can afford the 29-year-old.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had been optimistic of keeping the Dutchman at Emirates Stadium in the hope he could yet be convinced to sign an extension to his deal, which has 12 months left to run.
But after concerns about dressing room harmony and a mixed reception from fans towards Van Persie during Sunday’s 4-0 pre-season friendly win at Cologne, Wenger fears he could become a corrosive presence at the club. The door has been left open to Van Persie should an agreement not be reached but efforts will intensify from both parties to successfully conclude talks.
Standard Sport understands United are yet to improve on their offer of around £15m with Arsenal rigid in their stance despite Manchester City and Juventus’s interest waning to leave the Red Devils as the only serious bidders.
The most likely compromise is a £20m payment supplemented by add-ons to reach somewhere close to Arsenal’s overall figure. Talks will continue in the next 48 hours after Sir Alex Ferguson and Wenger are understood to have communicated directly.
United are eager to complete the deal having missed out on Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura, who joined Paris St Germain for £35m.
And an end to the Van Persie saga before the start of the season would help to avoid a repeat of the turmoil that disrupted the Gunners last term — the nadir of which was an 8-2 thrashing at United last August. Samir Nasri expressed a desire to leave but played for the club against Liverpool before joining Manchester City for £24m four days before the Old Trafford rout.
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Wenger would prefer not to sell to United but has prepared for Van Persie’s departure with the signings of Lukas Podolski, Oliver Giroud and Santi Cazorla.
