City Making Room For Robin van Persie

Manchester City will look to off-load up to four strikers in order to make room for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, according to the Mirror.

The newly-crowned Premier League champions are expected to welcome bids for both Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko this summer, while the club are actively trying to find buyers for both Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz.

The Mirror report that Roberto Mancini has been told he must cut the squads wage bill before any significant signings can be made, as the club looks to tighten their belt due to the introduction of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie remains Mancini’s number one target this summer but the Italian must now cut the dead wood from the Etihad before he can make his move for the Dutchman.

Bayern Munich are thought to be lining up a £25m swoop for Dzeko while controversial striker Tevez will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in.

The future of Adebayor is up in the air after the departure of Harry Redknapp from Tottenham – where the Togolese hitman spent a year on loan last season – with a permanent move to White Hart Lane now on the back-burner.

Santa Cruz, who hasn’t played for City since November 2010,  still has one year left on his contract but is free to leave the club after loan spells at Blackburn and Real Betis.

The Mirror suggest Mancini is keen to push ahead with a move for Van Persie as he knows Juventus are also trying to lure the Dutchman away from the Emirates. However, City will be able to trump the Italians £180,000-a-week contract offer as long as they can make the necessary squad cuts.

Arsenal are still hopeful of keeping last seasons top goal-scorer and hope their moves in the transfer market this summer will persuade the striker to remain in North London. The Gunners have already signed Lukas Podolski, while moves are thought to be close for both Yann M’Vila and Olivier Giroud.

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