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Mid-Day Ticker: Van Persie says no new deal, Egyptian league to resume and more

Robin Van Persie (Getty Images)

Arsenal have been left shaken by the news that Robin Van Persie does not intend to sign a new deal with the club, and now they have a decision to make.

Van Persie's current deal runs through the end of next season, but Arsenal may want to cash in on him now before he is able to leave on a free transfer next summer. Head coach Arsene Wenger does have potential replacements in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, but it is tough to imagine they can replicate Van Persie's league-high 30-goal campaign.

The Dutch forward has said he does not plan to extend his stay with Gunners due to disagreeing with officials about how the club should move forward while trying to win their first trophy since 2005.

Here are more stories from around the soccer world:

EGYPTIAN LEAGUE COULD RESUME IN AUGUST

After seven long months, the Egyptian league looks set to kick back into gear in August. The Egyptian Football Association said the league could resume on August 24 if the government approves improved security measures at stadiums around the country. That could include the installation of video cameras and metal detectors, and they would help limit the chances of another deadly disaster like the one that claimed the lives of 74 people in Port Said in February.

CHELSEA DEALT BLOW IN NEW STADIUM PURSUIT

If Chelsea are to build a new stadium in the coming years, it will not be at the Battersea Power Station they were looking at. Chelsea were beat out by a Malaysian group of investors for that land, and they must now search for a new location for a potential stadium if they are to move away from Stamford Bridge. The Malaysian investors spent approximately $620.8 million for the site and its surrounding area.

THIAGO ALCANTARA TO MISS OLYMPICS

Spain will be without Barcelona playmaker Thiago Alcantara during this summer's Olympics due to a tibia injury that he has yet to heal from. The 21-year-old Alcantara was named to Spain's provisional 22-man squad despite the knock, but he will not be fit in time to play in the Summer Games after recent tests showed more recovery time is needed. Alcantara, the son of 1994 Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho, made his senior debut with Spain last August.

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What do you think of Van Persie not wanting to renew his contract? Are there any other safety measures Egypt should take? Should Chelsea just stay at Stamford Bridge?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Barca has no money either. They spent everything on Cesc and Alexis. And didn’t bring in what many projected them to bring in money wise this time last year.

    Reply
  2. I would assume that the league office is waiting and hoping that everyone will get distracted by something else so they can invoke the Beckham-rule and once again treat him entirely differently than anyone else in the league … or maybe I’m just too cynical.

    Reply
  3. United, Milan and Juventus won’t have the funds/be willing to spend the funds.

    It comes down to: City, Barca or Real Madrid.

    Reply
  4. I find it incredibly irritating this is all being put on Kronke.

    From what I can recall, before he became the majority share holder, Arsenal maintained this restrained financial game plan.

    Above all, the most annoying statement made is Kronke being referred to as “the American”.

    Makes me want to slap the s**t out of those kind of people…like an “American” would.

    Reply
  5. The RvP story has taken a new twist as Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov today wrote an open letter sharply criticizing the Arsenal board, and it can only get worse for Arsenal in coming weeks.

    Usmanov slams Arsenal board
    http://tinyurl.com/ck7ggwn

    After this fiasco, I really hope Clint Dempsey does not end up at Arsenal. I think it could end up being a huge mistake. Several news stories the past couple of days saying that Liverpool is planning to make a bid for Dempsey, and I am slowly beginning to think (if Schalke does not materialize), that Liverpool, with the new coach, moight be a good move for him. Better to move to a team on the bounce then one about to plunge, which I think would be a risk at Arsenal.

    Reply

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