Manchester City are willing to meet Arsenal's £30 million asking price for contract rebel Robin van Persie.

The Mail on Sunday says Manchester United decided that Arsenal's £30m asking price was poor value for a 29-year-old who will have insignificant sell-on value.

Although Juventus have been strongly linked with the Holland striker, he favours a switch to the Etihad Stadium. Such is Roberto Mancini's desperation not only to defend the Premier League title, but also to satisfy the club's oil-rich owners' desire to win the Champions League, he will regard it as money well spent.

The Gunners' huge price tag for a player with only a season left on his contract is nothing more than a token gesture, especially with the Dutchman clearly determined to leave a club he has criticised for lacking ambition.