Manchester City Transfer News: Are the Citizens Preparing for Robin Van Persie?

Manchester City were touted by many as the most likely to pick up Robin van Persie should he leave the Emirates, and now it seems that the Citizens are preparing the way for his potential arrival at the club.

City manager Roberto Mancini has been told he has to sell before he can buy the Gunners striker—meaning that if they want van Persie, they'll need to make room for him at the club first.

According to Mirror Football, the Citizens are actively trying to sell Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor to create space for van Persie in the strikers role. The media outlet reports that Sergio Aguero—their final-minute, goal-scoring hero of the English Premier League—is the only striker that City are not willing to sell, with every other striker up for offer.

It is possible that all four strikers could depart from the club over the summer transfer window.

Dzeko is frustrated about the lack of minutes he is receiving at the Etihad and has already attracted interest from Bayern Munich and several other Bundesliga clubs about a potential move. The Bosnian international was signed from Wolfsburg only 18 months ago for £27 million—with his experience in the Bundesliga perhaps a selling point to many suitors.

Emmanuel Adebayor is unlikely to return to Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Redknapp's departure from the club as well as their failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League potentially making his loan a more permanent move.

Then there's Santa Cruz, who hasn't played for the Citizens since November 2010 after being loaned out to Blackburn and Real Betis, who could also depart from the club permanently.

And it's hard not to imagine Carlos Tevez being let go for the right price. The striker did score some important goals for the club during the season, but if van Persie is on the line, it could be making way for the Dutch international.

All four strikers could, in theory, leave the club to make way for van Persie.

However, it's not going to happen.

If City is to sign van Persie, one imagines that they'll need to move pretty fast after Euro 2012 is complete to sign the Dutchman before he renews his contract with Arsenal. They'll also need to beat out interest from Italian champions Juventus, who are willing to pay the striker £180,000 per week.

The Citizens could better the offer from Juventus if they felt van Persie was worth the signing, but they would still have a tough time signing the Dutchman in light of their need to sell first.

It is unlikely that any of the four strikers would be able to match their current contracts at another club because they would likely fall outside of FFP guidelines and as a result, will probably remain at the Etihad over the summer transfer window.

Manchester City are definitely preparing for the possibly of a van Persie transfer, but it doesn't look like a feasible option considering the attacking talent they would have to get rid of. The signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud for Arsenal must increase the Gunners chance of a title and as a result, the Dutchman's chances of remaining at the Emirates next season.

At the end of the day, Manchester City doesn't need Robin van Persie. He is a luxury that in an ideal world, would be an excellent addition, but to say that he is worth more than four world-class strikers is a little tough.

I mean, they did win the English Premier League without him.

What's to say they can't do it again?

Is it wise for City to give up this much for Robin van Persie?

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