Arsenal captain Robin van Persie set to sign for Manchester United in 24m deal

UNITED BOUND: Robin van Persie

Manchester United could field Robin van Persie in their Premier League opener against Everton on Monday after striking a deal to prise the Dutch frontman from Arsenal.

The Dutchman is due in Manchester tomorrow for a medical, with only that and personal terms the potential obstacles to the deal being completed. However it is not anticipated there will be any late hitches.

"Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the transfer of Robin Van Persie," said a club statement.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."

No fee has been announced by United, although it is believed to be around the 20million mark, with further payments to Arsenal depending upon success in the future.

It has been suggested Van Persie will sign a four-year deal, and there is now the prospect of him pairing up with Wayne Rooney in a formidable strikeforce as United look to reclaim the domestic league title from big-spending neighbours Manchester City.

The transfer represents the biggest deal United have done since Dimitar Berbatov's club record 30.75m move from Tottenham in 2008.

It comes at a time when further questions are being raised about the finances available to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The United boss has consistently stated how much backing he has received from the Glazer family.

Despite the presence of England's Euro 2012 star Danny Welbeck and Mexican attacker Javier Hernandez in his squad, in addition to Berbatov, who has been widely tipped to leave Old Trafford, Ferguson made Van Persie one of his main summer targets.

The Red Devils initially lodged a bid for the 2! 9-year-o ld last month, but that was turned down amid further interest from Manchester City and Juventus.

However, City never followed up an initial inquiry, while Van Persie made it clear he was not interested in a move to Serie A.

Having taken the unusual step of confirming a bid for Van Persie on United's pre-season tour of South Africa, Ferguson is then said to have intervened in a deal that was in danger of stalling by speaking directly with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger did not want to sell his star man to a rival club, however Arsenal supporters turned against their former favourite during a pre-season encounter with Cologne on Sunday.

United fans will certainly be thrilled by the potential of Rooney partnering last season's Golden Boot winner.

Van Persie scored 37 goals in all competitions, enough to land him both the players' and football writers' player of the year awards.

If there is a risk to the transfer it may be Van Persie's patchy injury record. His 48 games last season was by far the most he has played during his time at Arsenal.

In only three of his other seven seasons has he featured on more than 35 occasions.

Ferguson will presumably believe he has the resources that will ensure not too much is demanded of Van Persie, especially as Welbeck is believed to be on the brink of agreeing a new contract.

Van Persie factfile

• 1983: Born August 6 in Rotterdam.
• 2002: January - Signs three-and-a-half-year deal with Feyenoord. Drafted into the first-team squad because of injury shortages at the age of 18.
• February 21 - Features as a 57th-minute substitute in UEFA Cup fourth-round, first-leg clash against Rangers. Plays from the start in the 3-2 second leg win at home which books his team's progress.
• May 8 - Plays in Feyenoord's 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund in Rotterdam.
• 2002-03: Ends the! season with eight goals from 28 games as Feyenoord finish runners-up in the Dutch Cup. Played twice in the Champions League.
• 2004: January 20 - Feyenoord reveal they have rejected a bid for Van Persie from Arsenal.
• Makes 32 appearances for Feyenoord, scoring six goals.
• April 28: Arsenal reveal they have signed Van Persie on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.
• August 8 - Makes his debut as a substitute in the 3-1 FA Community Shield win over Manchester United.
• October 27 - Scores on his competitive debut, a 2-1 League Cup win over Manchester City.
• 2005: June 4 - Makes Holland debut in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Romania.
• 2006: January 4 - Signs new five-year contract with Arsenal.
• June - Plays in all four of Holland's matches at the World Cup.
• 2007: January 21 - Season ended by a broken foot suffered against Manchester United.
• October - Begins life as Arsenal's main striker following Thierry Henry's departure. Scores seven goals in 10 matches, but then suffers a knee injury, leaving him out for two months. Suffers a series of minor injuries during the rest of the season.
• 2009: January 3 - Captains Arsenal for the first time.
• July 8: After several months of talks and with his existing deal entering its final year, signs a new four-year contract.
• November 14 - After another strong start to the season, injures his ankle on international duty, ruling him out for five months.
• 2010: Misses two months at the start of the season with an ankle injury.
• July 11 - Plays in the World Cup final as Holland lose 1-0 to Spain.
• 2011: January 22 - Scores his first career hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wigan.
• August 11 - Named Arsenal captain after the departure of Cesc Fabregas.
• September 2 - Scores four goals in Holland's record-breaking 11-0 win over San Marino.
• September 24 - Goal against Bolton takes his Arsenal tally to 100.
• December 31 - Scores in the 1-0 win over QPR to take his tally for the calendar year to 35, one short of Alan Shearer's Premier League record.
• 2012: April 22 - Named PFA Player of the Year.
• May 13 - Arsenal finish fourth in the Premier League with Van Persie netting 30 Premier League goals.
• July 4 - After scoring once in Holland's winless Euro 2012 campaign, reveals he will not be signing a new contract with the Gunners.
• July 20 - Sir Alex Ferguson confirms Manchester United have made a bid for Van Persie.
• August 15 - United announce they have struck a deal to sign Van Persie from Arsenal, subject to a medical and personal terms.

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