ARSENAL OFFERS VAN PERSIE £130,000 PER WEEK

North London club, Arsenal are putting the finishing touches on a club record £7million-per-season deal to keep Robin van Persie.

Manager Arsene Wenger, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and Van Persie are expected meet on Wednesday for highly-anticipated talks over a new deal.

And it is understood Van Persie, who currently earns a basic wage of £70,000-per-week, will be offered a new three-year deal worth around £130,000-per-week - eclipsing the pay packages of Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas Van Persie will also be offered £5million signing-on fee if he pledges his future to the club.

Wenger will sell the sporting benefits of extending his Arsenal stay to Van Persie during talks on Tuesday rather than discussing the financial structure of his pending deal.

 

However, money is likely to become a key theme throughout negotiations over the coming days.

The Arsenal hierarchy accept there is unlikely to be a quickfire decision from Van Persie and his advisors over his future, despite Wenger's original hopes of having an answer before the start of Euro 2012.

But the Gunners board hope to have a clearer view of their chances of committing Van Persie to a new contract by the end of the week.

But while Van Persie has shown a willingness to stay in north London, he wants to see what options are open to him before signing a new contract.

Whether £130,000-per-week and a £5million deal is enough to persuade Van Persie to sign fresh terms remains to be seen.

Arsenal had considered offering Van Persie a four-year deal but club officials are not overly-enamoured by the idea of paying a 33-year-old £130,000-per-week.

While the contract would be the most lucrative in the club's history, Van Persie knows he could earn more elsewhere.

Van Persie could earn as much as £220,000-per-week at Manchester City and the player's agent Kees Vos was a guest of executive Brian Marwood at a recent Etihad Stadium match.

Manchester United are also understood to have discussed the idea of making their own swoop for the Gunners skipper.

However, sources close to the striker insist Van Persie would find it difficult to play for another Premier League side.

That leaves Barcelona and Real Madrid as his other two suitors - and a serious offer from either of the Spanish giants would turn Van Persie's head.