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Arsenal's Robin Van Persie celebrates his second goal during the Barclays Premier League match against Bolton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on Saturday in London, England. (GETTY)
Arsenal captain Robin van Persie could join his former team mate Samir Nasri at Manchester City if contract talks fail during the January transfer window.
The big-spending Eastlands club will reportedly make a £30 million for the Dutch international as they attempt cash in on the financial crisis prevailing at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed concerns on Friday that five of his top stars including Van Persie could leave the Gunners because they were not in a position to compete financially with clubs like Manchester City.
The ‘Daily Mail’ reported that Van Persie is deeply disillusioned over the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to City (https://bit.ly/qTRkJh).
Van Persie scored a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bolton giving Wenger only his second win of the season and a lifeline after Arsenal’s worst start in 58 years.
On Saturday Wenger confirmed Van Persie’s importance to the team after he got his 100th goal for Arsenal.
“He has grown well into the captain’s role,” said Wenger. “He is a man who speaks his mind and is doing the job well.”
Van Persie’s contract - thought to be worth £80,000 a week - runs out in 2013, meaning the club would be forced to sell him by next summer if they wanted any financial return, the report added.
He has had offers to leave before. He signed a new contract in 2009 despite Juventus, Internazionale and Chelsea all following the progress of talks. But the player is settled in London and has been committed to Arsenal.
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