Premier League champions will not be held to ransom by Arsenal as they cool their interest in Dutch spearhead and turn their attention to other striker targets
Manchester City are refusing to pay more than £15 million to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal this summer, Goal.com has learned.
The Premier League champions have registered their interest in the Dutch spearhead but are adamant they will not be held to ransom on the transfer fee.
Goal.com understands that City’s interest in Van Persie has cooled in recent weeks after learning that Arsenal would want more than £25m for the player, who turns 29 in August.
Once source close to the situation said: “The numbers do not add up for City. They are not willing to pay more than £15m on top of marquee wages.”
City are aware that it would take a package worth £200,000-a-week to take Van Persie to the Etihad Stadium, a sum they would be willing to sanction, but are keen to end the overspending on transfers and salaries that accompanied their rapid rise from mid-table club to champions.
Even if City are successful in off-loading fringe players such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge and Kolo Toure from the wage bill, with the latter trio being targeted by QPR as revealed by Goal.com on Sunday, they will not be pushed into paying over the odds for new signings.
Manager Roberto Mancini is ready to turn his attention to other centre-forward targets, including Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, if Arsenal refuse to budge on their valuation of the recently crowned PFA and Football Writers’ Association player of the year.
Van Persie, who is expected to go on a family holiday following the Netherlands' exit from Euro 2012, has refused to extend his Arsenal deal that expires in a year’s time in initial contract talks with senior officials.
Nevertheless, it is increasingly likely that the Gunners captain will be at the Emirates Stadium at the start of the new Premier League season on August 18.
The Londoners would rather let Van Persie leave for free next year than sell him for £15-20m in the summer transfer window.
It means, with Barcelona and Juventus making it clear that Van Persie is not a serious target, the options for the player have seriously narrowed.
Etihad Stadium screening of England clash with Ukraine scrapped over Bruce Springsteen concert
A live screening of England’s crucial Euro 2012 game with Ukraine at the Etihad Stadium has been cancelled after an unusual fixture clash.
Tonight’s event in City Square has been scrapped because of preparation work ahead of a Bruce Springsteen concert at the ground on Friday.
The big screen had attracted a small turnout for England’s first two games of the tournament, with less than 20 fans turning out in torrential rain for Friday night’s win against Sweden.
Supporters with tickets for the screening of tonight’s game have been told not to congregate at the stadium for the game and full refunds will be available.
A club statement said: “Preparations are already under way at the stadium for the Bruce Springsteen concert on Friday and unfortunately this will cause unforeseen access problems to the ground.
“Full refunds are available from the City box office for anyone who has already purchased tickets and the club apologises for any inconvenience caused.
“We wish the England team well for the match against the co-hosts and hope to see them in the quarter-finals next week.”
Tickets for the big screen event had been priced at £5 for adults and £3 for children
It’s £30m for Llor
MANCHESTER CITY have been warned it will cost them up to £30million to land Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente this summer.
3 comments The Spain international is on a list of possible targets if Roberto Mancini fails to bag Arsenal’s Robin van Persie during the close season.
But Llorente, 27, has a release clause of around £30m in his contract at Athletic and they are unlikely to change their stance.
Bilboa president Josu Urrutia said: “He is a key player and we would not accept less.
“The supporters would not accept this.”
Llorente, who scored 24 goals last season, is refusing to talk about his future while he remains part of Vicente del Bosque’s squad at the Euros.
City are preparing to shuffle their strikers this summer as they hunt buyers for Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz.
They will also listen to offers for Bayern Munich target Edin Dzeko — but Carlos Tevez has indicated he would be happy to stay at the Etihad
Llorente in for City means Tevez out... for Man Utd top bollox
Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao wants to move to England.
Manchester United may swoop on Carlos Tevez if Manchester City get Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente this summer.
Arsenal are also tracking Llorente as a back-up for Robin van Persie who has yet to commit his future at Emirates.
But the Premier League champions have been warned it will cost them up to £30 million to land Llorente who has only one year left on his contract, according to The Sun.
The Spain international is on a list of possible targets if Roberto Mancini fails to bag Arsenal’s Robin van Persie during the close season.
The 27-year-old has a release clause of around £30m in his contract at Athletic and they are unlikely to change their stance.
Bilboa president Josu Urrutia said: “He is a key player and we would not accept less.
“The supporters would not accept this.”
Llorente, who scored 24 goals last season, is refusing to talk about his future while he remains part of Vicente del Bosque’s squad at the Euros.
City are preparing to shuffle their strikers this summer as they hunt buyers for Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz.
They will also listen to offers for Bayern Munich target Edin Dzeko — but Carlos Tevez has indicated he would be happy to stay at the Etihad.
But Llorente's arrival could make him surplus and provide him an escape route to Old Trafford
MANCHESTER CITY’S Community Shield clash with FA Cup winners Chelsea on Sunday, August 12 will kick off at 1.30pm.
The game is being played at Villa Park as Wembley is unavailable, due to its status as an Olympic venue.
[spoiler]Lara Alvarez is likely to take a keen interest in this summer's Euro tournament.
The Spanish beauty also has a personal interest as her other half is Real Madrid right-back Sergio Ramos.
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United are set to reward Rafael da Silva, 21, with a new contract in a bid to fend off interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea. Metro
Malaga are interested in signing Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, 31, after it was revealed he would be leaving the club this summer. Daily Mail
Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, 26, has told Everton they will have to wait until the end of Euro 2012 before he sorts out his future.
Manchester United youngster Zeki Fryers, 19, could be set to leave Old Trafford, with Tottenham, Newcastle and Burnley all interested in the left-back. Manchester Evening News
Reading are willing to smash their wage structure to land Pavel Pogrebnyak, 28. The Royals have offered the Russia striker a £13m deal. the Sun
Benfica are ready to reignite their interest in Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, 24, after he starred for Denmark against Portugal. talkShyte
Chelsea are planning a £10m move for Wigan winger Victor Moses, 21. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are lining up Porto winger James Rodriguez, 20, as a potential replacement for Nani. Daily Mirror
Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are keen on signing Liverpool's Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel, 27. Daily Mail
QPR manager Mark Hughes is considering replacing bad-boy midfielder Joey Barton, 29, with Stephen Ireland, 25. the Sun
Blackburn striker Yakubu, 29, is in talks over a big-money move to Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou. the Sun
Three members of the Chelsea staff have been suspended after the Champions League trophy was damaged. Daily Mail
Bolton defender Zat Knight, 32, is set to sign a new contract at the Reebok Stadium despite their relegation from the Premier League. Bolton News
Chelsea's Juan Mata says the club have given him permission to play for Spain in this summer's Olympics. Daily Mirror
Premier League strikers Robin van Persie and Darren Bent are to set appear in a new series of ITV game show Red Or Black. Metro
MORE BOLLOX LATER
