Arsenal will not sell Robin van Persie

Arsenal fans can rest assured that their captain Robin van Persie will not be sold at any cost this summer.

The Dutch international has been the top goal scorer in the Premier League with 22 and has left a year on his contract which he has yet to extend.

However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will refuse to be held to ransom over van Persie.

Wenger ended up selling Samir Nasri to Manchester City for £22 million last summer because he only had one year left on his deal and Wenger feared he could end up leaving on a free transfer.

Arsenal are determined to keep their prize asset this summer even if the Dutchman does not sign a new contract, according to the Daily Mirror.

But Arsenal are prepared to take the risk of Van Persie running his current contract into next season before it expires in 2013.

The Arsenal board are aware they could earn the wrath of fans if they sell their talisman and star striker.

Van Persie would be 30 in 2013, is four years older than Nasri and so it will be a different dilemma for Arsenal this summer making it increasingly likely they will take a gamble on his contract situation, the report added.

Arsenal will also offer Van Persie a new improved deal in the next few weeks but the basic contract is unlikely to top £100,000-a-week.

But Barcelona, one of the major clubs watching developments, have already made it clear they will not pay "mad" fees for players this summer even if they go for Van Persie or Gareth Bale.

Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "Those players are very good, but we always need common sense in any negotiations.

"We will not enter the madness market but it is impossible for Barcelona to pay 40 or 50 million Euros for any player.

"This is a decision of the club. We can't fight against every club. But we have an advantage in that players want to come and play for Barcelona."
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.