Robin van Persie: Top 6 Potential Transfer Destinations for Arsenal Superstar

Robin van Persie is very possibly the best player in the English Premier League at present. And it is just as possible that he is the best pure striker in the world.

His 23 league goals easily put him in the pole position for the Golden Boot trophy in what is, by far, the best season of the Dutchman's career.

His leadership and wondrous skill are invaluable to an Arsenal team that frequently turns to its best player when in need of that one moment of inspiration to turn a draw into a victory.

But van Persie is also in the second to last year of his contract, and there is rampant speculation that, with another trophy-less season all but certain for Arsenal, he will look for one last massive contract at a bigger club.

The fact that he has officially put off contract talks until the summer will not ease Gooners' anxiety.

If van Persie decides to push for a move, there is little the clubs can do about it; it is better to make some money off the player than to let him go for free a year later on a free transfer.

If the situation that keeps many Arsenal fans up at night actually comes to pass, let us examine several places where van Persie can end up.

Manchester City

Even though Manchester City have a bench overflowing with world-class talent for which there are not enough substitutions in a match, one can never rule the richest club in the world out of any possible transfer.

No matter what fee Arsenal might demand, City would have the means to pay it, and the salary the Sky Blues could offer van Persie would be laughably out of Arsenal's range.

However, I do not believe that van Persie is solely motivated by money, and a move to one of Arsenal's main rivals would probably seem unattractive to him.

Plus, he would certainly not appreciate the "mercenary" tag that so often is slapped on players who make big-money moves to the blue half of Manchester.

AC Milan

AC Milan got a very good look at Robin van Persie during their 4-0 demolition of the Gunners at the San Siro and have been coy about signing the Dutchman.

Owner Sylvio Berlusconi has certainly not rejected the idea of bringing van Persie to Italy on a full-time basis, Thiago Silva has publicly urged Arsenal's captain to make the switch and RVP's compatriot, Mark van Bommel, has waxed lyrical about his abilities.

If it is trophies that van Persie wants, he can certainly get them with the defending Italian champions. The Rossoneri are in position to snatch a second consecutive title, and any Arsenal player knows how successful Milan can be in the Champions League.

Inter Milan

AC Milan's cross-town rivals, Inter, could use some serious striking power, and Arsenal's captain would be a great candidate man to provide it.

The rumor-mongers know this, and The Metro, TalkSPORT and The Daily Mail have linked van Persie with a move to Inter in the past.

However, if the Italian giants decide to purchase one Dutchman, they will likely have to sell another, as playmaker Wesley Sneijder and van Persie are involved in a long-standing feud that would not allow them to cohabit the San Siro very easily.

Bayern Munich

If the Germans could fit van Persie into their starting XI on a regular basis, he would be a fantastic fit at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich play a great brand of technical attacking football, and someone of van Persie's technical skill and flowing style would slot in perfectly alongside a player like Mario Gomez.

He has been linked with Munich for years, and the speculation has not subsided this season. I have to admit that van Persie would look great in a Bayern Munich shirt during the last of his prime years.

Barcelona

Barcelona would be a nearly perfect fit for Robin van Persie, but I think that Gooner hatred for Arsenal's Catalan rivals would reach an all-time high if the Dutchman were to make the switch to the Iberian Peninsula.

David Villa is recovering from a broken leg and is on the wrong side of 30. Barca could use an experienced striker who could transition to the wing and switch roles with Lionel Messi, as both Villa and Thierry Henry have done before.

Van Persie is well-versed in the pass-heavy, extremely technical style that Barcelona play, having learned his trade under Arsene Wenger, who values aesthetically pleasing football more than almost anyone else.

And even though he has pledged not to woo his former teammate, the lure of friend Cesc Fabregas can be a key factor in van Persie's decision-making process.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid have emerged as the club most heavily linked with the Dutch striker recently, and, like Manchester City, it would be foolish to rule them out of any transfer chase.

Though there is certainly no shortage of world-class striking talent on offer at the Santiago Bernabeu, the addition of arguably the best striker in the world would put Los Merengues further ahead of Barcelona in the perpetual arms race for the La Liga title.

The thought of van Persie's "wand" of a left foot linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo, receiving delicious through balls from Mesut Ozil and getting on the end of crosses from Angel di Maria would make any football fan salivate.

It will be difficult for a player in the form of his life to resist such an opportunity, but Arsenal and all the club's faithful fans are hoping that van Persie's head will not be turned by any of the teams on this list.