Manchester City are reluctant to go higher than £20 million for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie. The Daily Express says Van Persie, whose Arsenal contract expires at the end of next season, has so far resisted attempts by the London club to extend his current deal and is aware that he remains Roberto Mancini's number one target this summer.

City have yet to lodge a bid with Arsenal for Van Persie, with the Premier League champions reluctant to offer more than £20 million because of the player's age - he is 29 in August - and his dwindling contract.

Van Persie, currently on holiday in the Caribbean, is expected to join his team-mates on Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia.

But the player is rumoured to have studied properties in the Cheshire area and City are confident that they can secure his services if they move swiftly to thwart rival interest from Barcelona and Italian champions Juventus.