Robin van Persie is demanding £80,000-a-week to sign a new deal with Arsenal.

The News of the World says talks opened in November but negotiations on a four-and-a-half year deal were put on hold until the arrival of new chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

It was understood then that the striker would settle on around £65,000-a-week which would leave him some way short of Emmanuel Adebayor, William Gallas and manager Arsene Wenger in the pay league.

But while the Emirates board kept him waiting the Van Persie hit top form and now feels he deserves to be paid the same as his team-mates.

Both parties are likely to agree a settlement below £80,000-a-week on the condition that performance-related clauses are added to the contract which could see Van Persie, 25, earn more.