Sir Alex Ferguson has always got the man he wants. When he went in for Berbatov from Spurs all those years ago he eventually got his man but it seems with Arsenal things are a lot harder. Van Persie has been the subject of transfer speculation ever since he said he would not sign a new contract with the club. A host of clubs have tried to lure the player but none have succeeded.

“We’ve made a bid, they [Arsenal] have been trying to negotiate with other clubs,” said United manager Ferguson.  “I don’t have a gut feeling about it. We can’t get a breakthrough with Arsenal.”

Sources say Arsenal are not willing to sell the 29 year old until a club bids in excess of £20 million. “I don’t know what Arsenal’s thoughts are because they’re not giving anything away. It’s difficult to say why they’re operating this way. I can’t give you any more information. We just have to persevere.  We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there’s no progress at this moment in time.”

Van Persie had his most productive season for Arsenal and his country scoring 41 goals in just 53 games. Ferguson though was hoping to sign Brazilian Lucas Moura but has seen his bid destroyed by a gigantic £35.5 million bid for the 19 year old by Paris St Germain. “To tell everyone that PSG are here they’ve signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” added Ferguson. “They must have spent about £150m in the last month.  When somebody’s paying 45 million euros (£35.5m) for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game’s gone mad. I find it quite amazing.”