LONDON: Fuming Arsenal feel striker Robin van Persie (pic) is plotting a move to Manchester City after he rejected a new deal, reported The Sun.

The Gunners are stunned when the Holland international announced on his website he will not be staying at the club.

Arsenal immediately issued a statement suggesting they will force the star, who scored 37 goals for them last season, to see out the remaining year of his contract.

But that would mean letting their skipper leave on a free, when there is a queue of clubs ready to open their cheque books right now.

Among them are City and Arsenal reckon van Persie is angling for a mega-money move to the Premier League champions.

City’s Italian superstar Mario Balotelli tweeted this morning: “Will Robin move up to us? I would love to play with him.”

Van Persie’s Dutch agent Kees Vos was spotted with City’s football administration officer Brian Marwood at the Etihad last season.

“I have thought long and hard about it but I have decided not to extend my contract," said van Persie.

“Unfortunately, it has become very clear to me that in many aspects we disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

“I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and bring the club back to its glory days.”

That clearly has not happened and Arsenal have seen a string of their best players — including Thierry Henry, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas — leave as the club has failed to win a major honor since the 2005 FA Cup.

Only yesterday boss Wenger urged chief executive Ivan Gazidis to double van Persie’s £90,000-a-week wages in a bid to keep him.

The Gunners will be reluctant to let van Persie join City, having already seen Gael Clichy, Patrick Vieira, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nasri go there.

An Arsenal statement this morning declared: “Robin has one year to run on his contract and we are confident he will fulfil his commitments to the club.”

While City will happily offer the double Footballer of the Year a £10m-a-year deal, they are unlikely to pay more than £20m for a player who is 29 next month.


-mD