Could the Dutchman really make the switch from Arsenal to Chelsea?
A year ago, even a month ago, this seemed unthinkable. To many, it still does.
Yet the more Robin van Persie backs himself into a corner, the greater chance he will jump at any viable escape route which presents itself, and the same goes for Arsenal.
Behind the scenes it is clear the Dutchman had been angling for a move since the end of the season. Fed up with a lack of transfer activity, he issued his statement, a seismic earth shattering one for Arsenal fans.
So it seemed at the time. But Gooners have seen it all before, fans have seen star players come and go, and their mixed success has often made the temporary feeling of disappointment less cutting.
Right now, Arsenal and Van Persie are separated, not just emotionally, but physically too; the first team squad are 5,000 miles away in Asia and are busy planning for next season, without last year’s Golden Boot winner.
The message from the fans and the club is clear, ‘We have already moved on, if you can find any one willing to take you on, good luck to the both of you, you’ll need it.’
If Van Persie was trying to force the hand of a Real Madrid or a Barcelona with his statement, it has not worked. The low bids of Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United have not been accepted, and must have been a blow to his ego if nothing else.
Juventus and United might be being careful with their funds, but Manchester City’s lack of activity in this transfer window has puzzled some, observers are viewing it as the calm before the storm, but as time goes on, the better the forecast is looking for the rest of the Premier League.
Roberto Mancini may want Van Persie, but it is not just down to him. City have four strikers in Balotelli, Tevez, Aguero and Dzeko, and until they shift one of them – which may not happen, signing another is not likely. At present they still haven’t got Adebayor or Santa Cruz off their books, and still have to decide on the future of young star John Guidetti.
A team on the hunt for a striker is Chelsea. They have Fernando Torres, yes, then there is Daniel Sturridge, Romelu Lukaku looks set to be loaned out, and then that’s it.
A Van Persie-Torres partnership would be one to send shivers down the spines of defenders, and if the Dutchman can stay fit, there is no knowing how many he can score with a mouth watering supply line of Mata, Hazard, and Marin in attack.
Chelsea have been thwarted in their efforts to sign a top class forward so far- Hulk, Cavani, Lewandowski – all have been priced ridiculously high. In shying off paying £38 million for Hulk, Chelsa have intimated they do not want to pay too much for a star striker.
As time ticks down towards the start of the season, they may be pushed to compromise. Van Persie is available, and hungry to win trophies. He could just be the missing piece in their jigsaw.
As much as Arsenal don’t want to sell him, especially to their rivals, if they could get £25 million for him from Chelsea they should take it, and cross their fingers he has already peaked.
Getting rid of a player who is unhappy, a distraction, and a potential disruptive influence, would be worth it. Is £25 million over the odds for Chelsea? Perhaps, but compared to their other targets he is cheap, and most of all proven in the Premier League. He even scored a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge last season.
With City and United dithering, failing to stump up the cash Arsenal are demanding, the opportunity is there for Chelsea to steal in and get their man. Van Persie may once not have considered it, but his options are currently stay in the reserves or apologise, and his pride may prevent both occurring.
Could a Van Persie to Chelsea deal actually happen? How would you feel about it?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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