We'll be deadliest in Europe with Van Persie, says Fergie ahead of £24m deal

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Manchester United will possess arguably Europe's most fearsome strikeforce when Robin van Persie arrives.

Van Persie arrived at London St Pancras train station on Thursday morning before setting off to Manchester to complete his medical. 

He should be ready to make his Manchester United debut at Everton on Monday.

Ferguson has spoken about the new-look attacking options of Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, and the comparisons with the 1999 set of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Speaking at a press conference, Ferguson said: 'They (Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie) are two fantastic players and it will be great to have both of them. It gives us more strength and more combinations up front.

'In 1999 I had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the four best strikers in Europe.

'We are going towards that now with Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, Robin, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa.

It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully I pick the right combinations It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie's qualities to come into the squad. I am very pleased.'

United sealed the signing of the summer when Arsenal agreed to sell Van Persie to their Barclays Premier League rivals for £24million.

Even one of the players whose place is threatened expressed his delight, with Welbeck keen to welcome Van Persie into the United fold.

'It is a massive boost to the club if Robin van Persie joins us,' he said. 'I am really looking forward to playing with him.'

After weeks of negotiating with Arsenal and the Holland striker, United have beaten Manchester City and Juventus to Van Persie’s signature and the 29-year-old will have a medical at Old Trafford on Thursday. 

Launch: Sir Alex Ferguson was speaking at the club's link-up with sponsor bwin

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Ferguson said: 'He is on his way up from London for a medical. We hope that goes according to plan. 

'His agent is in discussions with (United chief executive) David Gill right about now. We hope all the things will be tied up, although sometimes medicals do take a bit longer. I am sure he will be available for Monday's game.'

Arsene Wenger has admitted that Arsenal were powerless to stop Robin van Persie signing for Manchester United.

Wenger has the best part of two weeks to spend some of the money before the transfer window is closed. He said on French TV on Wednesday night: ‘It’s sad to lose a player of his quality. He had only one year left on his contract so we didn’t have the choice.’

On the move: Bookmakers Coral were quick to set up this stunt outside the Emirates

United front: Sir Alex Ferguson has finally got his man by agreeing a deal for Robin van Persie

Asked who he would recruit, Wenger said: 'We already signed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.' 

Van Persie is the first Arsenal player to join United since Viv Anderson in 1987 and the move has riled Gunners fans, who took to Twitter to abuse him.

United are understood to have agreed a £15m downpayment for last season’s Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player — who scored 30 Premier League goals for last season. That will rise to £24m depending on appearances. Van Persie is expected to sign a four-year contract worth over £200,000 a week.

A statement on United’s website said: ‘Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal for the transfer of Robin van Persie. The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms.’

In signing Van Persie, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has laid down a clear marker ahead of the new season. It is the first time the club have paid  for a big name since Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham for £30.75m in 2008.

Having decided two or three years ago they would not sign players over the age of 27, United have signified just how far they are prepared to go to wrest the title back from City.

Final hurdle: The protracted deal will be concluded when Van Persie has a medical on Thursday

City manager Roberto Mancini will be particularly irritated that United have been allowed to steal his top target from under his nose, and this will test his strained relationship with the club’s football administrator Brian Marwood still further.

'Last season was disappointing for us because we didn't win the league,' said veteran defender Rio Ferdinand.

'Now it is about how we come back. We have shown in the past the mentality of the club and its history is that we always come back stronger.

'We want to give the fans what they expect and be battling at the top of the league. The gauntlet has been thrown down time and time again. It is up to us to pull in the right direction.

'We have to step up to the plate and produce. I am sure we will.'

Van Persie was on Wednesday night with Holland, who lost a friendly 4-2 to Belgium. He is expected to fly to Manchester early on Thursday morning.

His departure will leave Arsenal fans angry that yet another of their star players has decided to depart in search of an improved salary and better prospects for  winning major honours.

Van Persie follows Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, who left a year ago, although the club recovered from a poor start — including an 8-2 demolition by United at Old Trafford — to finish third.

Talisman: Van Persie bagged the vast majority of Arsenal's goals last season

Michael Carrick, who was on duty with England on Wednesday, was first to comment on the deal. 

He said: 'Someone mentioned in the dressing room about Van Persie and if it goes through, it will be brilliant. He had a terrific season and he will further strengthen our squad. It is a great boost going into the new season.

'He is a world class player and we have always been about bringing in players of that ability.

'Can it make the difference between second and first? There wasn't much difference so hopefully we can go that step further! But the club has always had strength in depth and it is about the squad and not the 11 on the pitch.'

Sourced: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2189241/Robin-van-Persie-make-Manchester-United-best-Europe-says-Alex-Ferguson.html#ixzz23jsmZva5

City and United battle to take Robin van Persie to Manchester

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, is privately confident that Manchester United do not pose a threat to him buying Robin van Persie, despite the growing sense that Sir Alex Ferguson will make one big move in the transfer market this summer in an attempt to prise back the Premier League title.
City have not yet tabled a bid for Van Persie, their top summer transfer target, though Mancini has no sense that United are preparing to provoke a repeat of last summer's chase for Samir Nasri by making a move of their own. The Premier League champions have felt for several weeks that they are getting close to agreeing personal terms with the Arsenal captain, who has also been shown around houses in the North-west by City.

But despite Mancini's relaxed outlook where last season's runners-up are concerned, United do have the funds for one big-money transfer this summer and Ferguson, who knows that the prospect of taking the title back off City will be vastly more difficult if they have Van Persie, may well argue the case for making the 28-year-old that signing. Though the player's age means that this would be a £20m outlay with minimal sell-on potential, a United side with Wayne Rooney operating behind Van Persie would be dangerous.

United's policy of not paying substantial sums for players who are over the age of 27 goes right back to 1997, when Henning Berg and Teddy Sheringham were the last outfield players of that age – Dimitar Berbatov aside – for whom United have paid more than £3m. But Berbatov proves there can be an exception to the rule and though United are unlikely to match the salary Rooney secured for himself in October 2010, a substantial signing-on fee could ease Van Persie's way to Old Trafford.

Arsenal, who did not move yesterday to speak to Van Persie after his declaration of intent to leave, would be far more willing to negotiate with United than with City – the club to whom Arsène Wenger has declared he would not sell another player.

If United do seek to capitalise on the situation, they may feel they can exploit the gap between Mancini – who once again wants to do early business – and his football administrator Brian Marwood, who must marry the Italian's desire with the strictures of Uefa's financial fair play regime. There is already frustration in the Mancini camp that Marwood is delaying on a formal opening bid for the Dutch striker.

Van Persie's determination to leave provoked the most outspoken attack yet on the Arsenal board by the club's second biggest shareholders, Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri, who have written to owner Stan Kroenke expressing "deep reservations" about how the American is running the club. Usmanov and Moshiri said in the letter obtained by the Associated Press that a "tight" financial regime is leading to Wenger "selling his best players and having to continue to find cheaper replacements".

Arsenal said last night that the letter, demanding a rights issue to reduce the club's debt and bring in funds, had "been received and the contents considered". But privately, the club are unmoved by this latest attack on their strategy by Usmanov and remain utterly convinced that a self-sustaining financial model is the right way ahead after 15 successive seasons in the Champions League.

Usmanov, who has been resolutely ignored by Kroenke, added: "It appears that a place in the Champions League will be the pinnacle of our achievement again next season. Unfortunately, in the future we may see this ambition lowered further."

Sourced: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/city-and-united-battle-to-take-robin-van-persie-to-manchester-16181692.html

RVP Moving Away From The Gunners?

Robin van Persie could be on his way out of Arsenal after refusing to sign a new contract.

In a statement on his official website, the Dutch striker revealed he will not extend his deal beyond when it expires next summer.

It has put Manchester City on red alert as they attempt to lure him to the Etihad Stadium

Van Persie said: 'This is an update for the fans about my current situation. I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr Gazidis and Mr Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.

On his way? Robin van Persie could now quit Arsenal

'As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the boss and Mr Gazidis after the season. This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.

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

'Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

Target: Man City boss Roberto Mancini, on holiday in Sardinia, will now step up his attempts to lure Van Persie to the Etihad Stadium this summer

'I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.

'I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens. I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC. 

'Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all (and more) on and off the pitch. I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last eight years. 

'As soon as Mr Gazidis is back from his two-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2168806/Robin-van-Persie-refuses-sign-Arsenal-contract.html#ixzz1zfpW9Tqw