By Alex Young, Goal.com
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hinted for the first time that that the club could sell Robin van Persie.
The 28-year-old has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus after notching 37 goals in all competitions last season but the Gunners have been adamant that the striker would be staying at the Emirates Stadium despite his insistence that he will not be extending his contract.
However, Van Persie has been omitted from the squad’s preseason tour of Malaysia and Wenger has now conceded that the Netherlands international could leave the club, saying that “if the transfers happen, they happen.”
“You know I am a big supporter of him," he added. "Our desire is to keep Van Persie. At the end of the day, we will do what is in the best interests of the club.”
Arsenal is thought to be holding out for a fee of around 30 million euros for the player, who has just 12 months left on his current deal, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side believed to be leading the chase for Van Persie’s signature after having had a bid already rejected.
The saga will remind Gunners fans of the protracted transfers of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City last summer, two losses from which the club was left reeling at the beginning of the campaign.
And Wenger has insisted that, however, the Van Persie situation is resolved, the club will not allow a similar downturn in form to reoccur.
“We know how much we had to fight to come third last year because we missed out the start of the season. After seven games we had lost four and we have learned that for us it is vital for us to focus on the start of the season rather than on any transfers," Wenger said.
“If the transfers happen, they happen. As long as you are at the club you give your best for the club and that is the only pride you can have as a football player and as a manager. I am convinced that Robin is like that.”
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