Arsenal Transfer News: Robin Van Persie Crisis Talks After Juventus Bid

By Matt Holmes / July 3, 2012

we reported yesterday, Juventus made a low £8 million bid for Arsenal captain Van Perise that was immediately rejected by the Gunners but an improved offer for the Euro 2012 Dutch star is said to be imminent. The Italian champions first offer was said to be purposefully low and derisory, just to unsettle Van Persie into officially handing in a transfer request. 28-year-old Van Persie is still stalling on the contract extension offers from the Gunners who were hoping he would quickly commit his future to the club soon after Holland were knocked out of the Euro's. Instead he seems to be playing the waiting game to see what other clubs come in for him and obviously at this stage he can't talk to any potential suitors until Arsenal accept a transfer bid. Obviously the closer Arsenal get to the end of the transfer window and Van Persie has not signed a new contract extension, the more likely they will look to cash-in rather than losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season. Wenger has spoke about trying to convince the Arsenal board to keep Van Persie for a final season, even if he doesn't sign a contract extension, but it is a fight he is likely to lose, just as he did with Samir Nasri last summer when he was forced to sell the midfielder to Manchester City in the exact same situation. Another problem for Wenger this time around is that Theo Walcott also has just one year left to run on his current deal and reportedly has told the club he only wants to sign an extension if Van Persie does the same. The England Euro 2012 winner has similarly attracted interest from Juventus.