Manchester City WILL make an offer for Arsenal contract rebel Robin van Persie. The Sunday Mirror says City are firmly at the front of the queue to land Van Persie if Arsenal are forced to sell their star striker.

But City's greatest competition could come from Real Madrid or Barcelona if either Spanish club decide to enter the bidding.

City are poised with an opening bid of £20million for Van Persie, who has just a year left on his Arsenal contract, with Manchester United, Juventus and Anzhi Makhachkala also expressing an interest.

Having already lost Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to City in recent years, Arsenal are desperate to do all they can to stop Van Persie following his former team-mates to the Etihad Stadium.