Manchester City are reportedly preparing to make their move for Arsenal forward Robin van Persie following the Netherlands' early exit from Euro 2012.
The 28-year-old Dutchman has 12 months remaining on his current contract and had delayed talks over a new deal until he returned home from the championships in Poland and Ukraine.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has sold Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to the blue side of Manchester over the past four years, but the Frenchman had vowed that he would not sell any more of his players to the Premier League champions.
Nevertheless, City remain interested in Van Persie, who scored 30 league goals last season.
Roberto Mancini has not made any approach for the player yet, but he will lodge a firm bid as soon as either Adebayor or Carlos Tevez are removed from the wage bill at the Etihad Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.
Juventus are believed to be City's and Arsenal's main rival for Van Persie's signature.
Robert Summerscales
