Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini faces an anxious wait over his pursuit of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

The Guardian says City are not planning to test Arsenal's resolve on Van Persie until they have trimmed several strikers from Mancini's squad and their wage bill.

Mancini guided City to the title last season using four main strikers - Sergio Agüero, Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko - and the club still have Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely, the 21-year-old from Liberia, under contract.

The trio were all sent on loan last season - Adebayor to Tottenham Hotspur, Santa Cruz to Real Betis and Tchuimeni-Nimely to Middlesbrough and Coventry City - and City are now looking for the Togo and Paraguay internationals to make a permanent exit.