Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners May Have to Deal with Massive £40M Bid for Robin van Persie from Manchester City

According to reports, English Premier League side, Manchester City, are planning a mega-bid, to lure rival Arsenal's Dutch skipper and striker, Robin van Persie next summer, in their ongoing quest to become club football heavyweights, both in England and Europe.

Sources believe that City boss, Roberto Mancini, is ready to offer £40 million for the Dutchman, who has been in prolific form this season. It seems that Mancini thinks his side could do better up front, despite having scored 42 goals in their 12 league games of the season so far.

If these reports are true and van Persie does, in fact, move to City, the Citizens will have to step up their attempts to offload wantaway Argentinean striker Carlos Tevez. However, even then, the club will have Italian Mario Balotelli, Argentinean Sergio Aguero and Bosnian Edin Dzeko on their rolls, meaning van Persie will have a lot of competition on his hands.

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, will be expected to turn down any offer for his most prized asset, particularly since the club, at the moment, relies heavily on van Persie's goals. Although the London club does have alternative striking options, in the form of Ivorian Gervinho and South Korean Park Chu-Young, Wenger believes firmly that the team's fortune rests with van Persie.

Robin van Persie has scored, as of Nov. 27, an astonishing 13 league goals, in as many games, this season.