According to Robin van Persie’s agent Kees Vos, Arsenal’s Captain Fantastic — who is better known as RVP by many of the Gunners’ faithful supporters — wants £195,000-a-week in wages, The Sun understands.
Vos reportedly broke the news to Italian giants Juventus during a meeting with the club.
RVP would be amongst the highest-paid footballers in the world should he get the contract he craves.
Juventus were initially unwilling to pursue RVP due to his massive wage demand, but the Serie A champions have allegedly changed their minds.
The fact that the Dutchman has three of the world’s biggest clubs — Juventus, Manchester City and Manchester United — on the edge of their seats certainly helps his cause.
The reigning Footballer of the Year finished last term as the leading scorer, 30, in the English Premier League, while accounting for 52.7% of Arsenal’s attack in league play.
RVP has already turned down a £130,000-a-week offer from the Gunners. City, United and Juve can all afford to offer the Arsenal skipper substantially more than £130,000-a-week, fueling speculation that the Dutchman won’t be an Arsenal player come the start of next season.
Despite the striker’s seemingly imminent departure from the Emirates Stadium, Arsene Wenger still wants to keep his prized asset.
“Van Persie is one of the best strikers in the world, if not the best, and my desire is to keep him,” said Wenger.
Fulham land Lukaku on a season-long loan
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will join Fulham on a season-long loan next season, The Sun reports.
Lukaku has started both of Chelsea’s matches at the 2012 World Football Challenge, netting two goals.
The Belgian forward was out-of-favour for the majority of last season, starting just four games in all competitions for the Blues.
The 19-year-old revealed that he wants regular first-team football following his two-goal performance against the Seattle Sounders at the 2012 World Football Challenge.
“If I can stay here at Chelsea and be part of the starting XI and score a lot of goals for the club and make the team win, that’s good for me and for the club as well,” Lukaku told Sky Sports News.
“But if I can go on loan and play in another team and score goals and then come back and explode it will be good as well. I just keep my feet grounded and work hard each day and then after the tour we will see what will happen.”
Fulham have already lost their second top scorer Pavel Pogrebnyak to Premier League newcomers Reading this summer, while talisman Clint Dempsey’s exit Craven Cottage seems to be a foregone conclusion.
The Cottagers were in desperate need of a front-man, while Lukaku was in need of playing-time. In summation, the loan makes perfect sense for both parties involved.
The wages are ridiculous!!