FC Barcelona and Man City told Robin van Persie will cost £30m - report

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to sell striker Robin van Persie this summer - providing their £30million valuation is met.

Robin van Persie

Van Persie is out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with a number of clubs in recent weeks.

Premier League champions Manchester City and Serie A champions Juventus are widely seen as frontrunners to sign the Netherlands international this summer, while the likes AC Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid have also shown interest.

Van Persie held talks with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis last month where it is believed he was offered a new four-year deal worth around £130,000-a-week.

But Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood last week ­admitted that the club would not be able to compete should the likes of Man City offer the forward £250,000 a week, as has been reported in recent weeks.

And although Arsenal have not given up hope of keeping their captain at Emirates Stadium next season, according to the Sunday Mirror, they are prepared to let him leave should they receive bids in excess of £30m.

If no-one matches their valuation, then Wenger is said to be happy to keep Van Persie at the club next season and allow his contract to run down.

That would make the Dutchman a free agent in twelve months time, but he would also be approaching his 30th birthday, which would make him less likely to be able to command a salary in excess of Arsenal’s current offer, and could also lead to less interest from some of Europe's elite.

"He is vital to us and has been an extremely good captain," said Hill-Wood recently.

"But if somebody comes along and offers Robin £250,000 a week then I am afraid we cannot compete with that.

"With players, you never know what they are going to do. Some players say they want silverware but when they have the chance to earn ­extraordinary money that has been pumped into the game, then you just have to hope they will stay ­because they are happy and loyal where they are.

"There are players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes at Manchester United who have been loyal to one club but players like that are few and far between.

"Hopefully we can reach ­agreement with Robin and ideally he will extend his contract. We have already brought in one new player in Lukas ­Podolski and I believe we will bring in more. I am confident we will, in fact.

"I just hope that Robin will be with us next season because I genuinely feel we can make a real challenge for the ­Premier League title. We had an atrocious start to last season but we recovered to finish third which was a marvellous achievement when you look at the problems that we had with ­injuries."

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