Man City Won't Make van Persie Most Highest Paid Club's Player

Robin van Persie

Manchester City transfer chief Brian Marwood is set to jeopardise the club’s bid to sign Robin van Persie by refusing to make him their highest-paid player.

And that will delight ­rivals United, who believe they can win the race for Van Persie if City do not blow the bank.

Marwood is already at odds with City boss Roberto Mancini over Van Persie, with the Italian desperate to land the Dutchman.

City had a £15m bid for Van Persie rejected and Mancini has been told he must sell some of his flops to clear the way for a new offer closer to Arsenal’s £20m asking price.

Arsene Wenger returns from Arsenal’s ­pre-season tour to Asia ­tomorrow and will hold ­another round of talks with Van Persie.

But even if Van Persie ­cannot be convinced to change his mind and City do agree a fee with the ­Gunners, Mancini can no longer count on the club ­offering the player vast sums of money to snub United and Juventus.

Mancini had assumed City would offer Van Persie a salary close to the £225,000-a-week that ­highest-paid player Yaya Toure earns, but Marwood is set to dash that hope.

City already have big problems trying to sell ­Emmanuel ­Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz due to their huge wage packets.

And Marwood believes it would be a significant and unnecessary risk to pay Van Persie, who turns 29 next month and has a poor ­injury record, any more than £150,000 a week.

Van Persie is already ­understood to favour a move to United or Juve and Marwood’s wage cap will only make it more ­difficult for City to convince the Dutchman to change his mind.

Arsenal were ready to offer Van Persie £130,000-a-week and a £5m signing-on fee before he said he would not sign a new contract.

United pay Wayne ­Rooney £200,000 a week and could match City’s reduced ­salary offer.