Arsenal’s chances of keeping Robin van Persie change by the day, and PSG’s double swoop on AC Milan stacks the deck against them further.
PSG signified their intent to make an impact in Europe last night with a move for AC Milan star duo Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
In the second of two articles looking at the knock-on effect of the deal, we examine how Arsenal’s chances of holding onto Robin van Persie could have been harmed.
Firstly, if any Arsenal fans were worried about PSG making a bid to sign Van Persie, and are now thinking it is good news they are likely out of the race, they would be mistaken.
The French side were never serious contenders for his signature, with the Dutchman only willing to consider a move to a team in England, Italy or Spain.
What the move has done is thrown a new side into the mix, AC Milan. With the £50 million plus the club are to receive for the two players, they are more likely to take a look at signing Arsenal’s wantaway Dutch striker than before.
29 in August, they may want a younger attacker, but Van Persie is proven quality and Milan interest may be heightened by a desire to stop rivals Juventus pulling further away by signing him.
Milan have been linked with Manchester City and Liverpool strikers, and at the moment it appears more likely a Tevez, Balotelli or Dzeko will be high on their list of strikers.
This of course would have a knock-on effect on Arsenal, with Roberto Mancini said to be ‘desperate’ to land the Golden Boot-winning Arsenal captain.
City currently have seven strikers on their books, and need to shed some before signing any others. It might have escaped a few, but Roque Santa Cruz is still a City player, with his contract expiring in 2013, and Emmanuel Adebayor is another they will want to shift too.
John Guidetti could go on loan for a year, but that still leaves four – Aguero, Dzeko, Balotelli and Tevez – one of which will have to move on for City to accommodate Van Persie.
Milan’s desire and increased capability, to land one of City’s big four, with all but Aguero realistic targets, mean it is likely one may be moving on, and if City want to make space in their squad for Van Persie, they may themselves want to push ahead with a deal. Tevez nearly signed with Milan in January and talks now are expected to be re-ignited.
If City do sell, it is clear they have a replacement in mind, and Van Persie appears at present to be their number one target.
PSG have kicked off a transfer merry-go-round with their expected acquisition of Zlatan, and Arsenal might find themselves feeling the collateral damage of their impact.
Will City sell a striker to Milan now to free space for Van Persie to join?
image: © psgmag
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