Robin van Persie has put Manchester City on alert after finally telling Arsenal he wants to leave.
City are poised to land yet another of the Gunners’ top stars with a monster £220,000-a-week package after the Dutchman revealed he will not extend his deal beyond next summer, when it expires.
The payday will make City’s no.1 target among the top earners at Eastlands alongside Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez.
Van Persie dropped his bombshell when he said: “I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract.”
It means Arsenal must now sell him this summer or force him to see out his contract and then lose him for nothing next year, while risking a fan revolt against a player who does not want to stay.
Other clubs in the mix for the PFA Player of the Year, 29 in August, include Italian champions Juventus who have already had an £8million offer for him turned down.
But City appear to be in pole position as they have the financial firepower to dwarf the wages on offer at other clubs.
They have deliberately bided their time with van Persie, waiting for him to make a decision.
Now they will move to shift Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor and Edin Dzeko - who report back for pre-season training on Thursday - in order to accommodate a man who boss Roberto Mancini rates as one of the best strikers in the world.
City have already raided the Emirates for Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Adebayor in recent seasons.
Now the Gunners will be helpless to prevent the Premier League champions from cherry-picking another of their top players at will, but former Arsenal star Ray Parlour said they will have to get used to it.
He said: “I think he [van Persie] knew three or four months ago that he wasn’t going to stay.
“That’s football these days. People move on quickly. Arsenal have to accept it and move on.”
The club reacted to van Persie’s decision with a statement which said: “We have to respect Robin’s decision not to renew his contract.
“Robin has one year to run on his current contract and we are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the club.
“We are planning with ambition and confidence for next season with Arsenal’s best interests in mind.”
Source : Mirror.co.uk
