Would We Want Linked Arsenal Striker At United?

Robin van Persie is one of those nasty Dutch bastards who you love when they play for you and hate when they play against you. Whilst I can understand why rival fans wouldn’t like him too much, I’ve always really rated him. It’s rare that I have such a high opinion of a rival team’s player but van Persie is a player I’ve sung the praises of time and again.

This morning’s papers have linked us with a move for the 25-year-old striker and whilst you can’t put blind faith in what some rag has to say, is it really the most outrageous suggestion that we could be after him?

Van Persie has just one year left on his current deal and has aspirations higher than what Arsenal can meet at the moment.

Whilst selling to a rival club would usually bring about a massive price-tag, if a deal was even possible, we are in a better position because time is running out on his contract. Arsenal lost Flamini in the same way last summer and will not want to make the same mistake again. The last time the contract renewal was mentioned in the press came from a van Persie interview at the end of May.

“The club and I have not been able to make any headway,” he told De Telegraaf. “But maybe I will soon have something new to report. That is all I have to say on this now.”

The major hold back would arguably be his fitness, as he is prone to injury, which could bite us in the arse if we’ve forked out a reasonable sum for him. Despite that though, his statistics are pretty good.

08/09 – Played 44, scored 20, assisted 15 (behind a goal in 80% of games played)
07/08 – Played 23, scored 9, assisted 4 (behind a goal in 57% of games played)
06/07 – Played 31, scored 13, assisted 8 (behind a goal in 68% of games played)

Would you want him at Old Trafford and how much do you think we would have to pay?