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Thursday Kickoff: Arsenal sets Van Persie price, Mourinho says Kaka can leave, and more

Robin Van Persie (Getty)

If Manchester United wants Robin Van Persie, they are going to have to pay more than any other team in the running for the Dutch striker's services.

United manager Alex Ferguson revealed on Wednesday that his team had made a bid for Van Persie, but reports suggest Arsenal won't sell Van Persie to Manchester United for less than Â£25 million, if not more.

"We've made a bid, (Arsenal) have been trying to negotiate with other clubs," said Ferguson. "I don't have a gut feeling about it. We can't get a breakthrough with Arsenal."

Juventus and Manchester City have been rumored to be after Van Persie, but various reports suggest Van Persie's preference is to join Manchester United. The only question now is whether Ferguson will be willing to spend Â£25 million on a forward with a 29-year-old forward with a history of injuries who is also in the last year of his contract with Arsenal.

Manchester United could be tempted to spend more on Van Persie after losing out on Lucas Moura, who moved to Paris St. Germain after the big-spending club splashed a Â£35 million on the 19-year-old standout.

Here are some other stories to get your Thursday going:

 MOURINHO SAYS KAKA CAN GO FOR RIGHT PRICE

Real Madrid seems unlikely to keep Brazilian star Kaka around for long, particularly with the club in hot pursuit of Luca Modric, and now manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that Kaka can leave the Spanish champions for the right price.

"If he decides to stay, then perfect. If he goes, that's perfect too but we are not going to give him away for free," Mourinho said. "Those that want him have to pay for him."

REAL MADRID CRUISES PAST AC MILAN

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a pair of second-half goals while Kaka provided three assists to help lead Real Madrid to a comfortable 5-1 exhibition victory over AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.

The teams played an even first-half, with Angel DiMaria and Robinho trading goals, but the match was all Real Madrid in the second half, with Ronaldo and Kaka proving to be too much for the Italian club to handle.

BARCELONA BEATS UNITED IN PENALTIES

Gerard Pique delivered the winning penalty kick as Barcelona needed PKs to beat Manchester United in their friendly in Sweden.

The teams played to a scoreless draw before settling matters with penalty kicks, with Victor Valdes keeping the shutout after denying a Wayne Rooney penalty kick in the first half.

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What do you think of these developments? Think Arsenal are smart to want more money from Manchester United? Where do you see Kaka winding up?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I assumed he accepted the call because he’s had so much time off between when he left the Dynamo and now that he’s finally joined Stoke. It’s not like he needs the rest or anything, and I also believe Stoke’s still touring the states.

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  2. “The only question now is whether Ferguson will be willing to spend £25 million on a forward with a 29-year-old forward …”

    Ya gotta buy him, you get 2!

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  3. also, i think it’s ridiculous Cameron is getting called up. let him settle with his club. they clearly aren’t happy he is coming (assuming that comment is true).

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  4. ummm, that Madrid report is old. also, madrid have taken their foot off the gas in regards to the Modric transfer. today AC Milan came out and said (again) a Kaka deal is not likely. Jose said what is in this article awhile ago, AC Milan then re opened talks, and then said today it’s actually still going to be close to impossible. it’s looking like Kaka stays.

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  5. When he played at ACM he didn’t play as the #10 in a 4-2-3-1 like he does at RM, so it’s not really the same position at all. He had speed and played much more vertically and as a forward, not the game that Mourinho expects from Ozil/Kaka in his set up. He should have never left ACM, and he didn’t want to, but he was sold, he got bruised up, got lost in the shuffle amidst different managers and formations, and now he is a particularly odd trophy in RM’s case. They should just let him go to MLS already.

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  6. Also, I hope you aren’t actually taking Hatem Ben Arfa at his word and think Newcastle will come anywhere close to winning the Prem. Arsenal have done very well in the window this summer – Newcastle haven’t brought anyone in.

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  7. Coming from a Newcastle fan I don’t expect much, but Podolski certainly won’t be a #9 – he’ll play on the left in Wenger’s 4-3-3. Giroud is the cover for RVP (if he stays, which looks like it might happen) and physical presence that Chamakh never was. No one will be ‘pleased’ about RVP’s sale, and I don’t think we should worry about fees considering Cazorla SHOULD have cost more than 20mil but Malaga are in such financial problems that the deal was cut-rate. He will vastly improve the offense. A front 3 of Podolski-RVP/Giroud-Cazorla with Ox, Theo, and Gervinho that can come in – not so bad.

    Sagna is coming back this month, and Jenkinson is looking great, so RBs look pretty good to me, if that’s what you mean. What kind of “strong CM” does Arsenal need? If you think Alex Song is weak, then I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just hope we don’t lose him to Barcelona.

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  8. no. hes so far away from any transfer abroad now its not even funny not to mention how far he fell down the pecking order of klinsman . i dont see why people are so hung up him still

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  9. Wenger wants to play 1 forward, so buying Giroud and Podolski should be enough for a team who’s ambition is to finish 4th every year.

    Van Persie’s sale will offset a good deal of the fees for Cazorla and one striker, so it’ll help Arsenal’s books. I’m sure fans are very pleased about that.

    Still think they need a strong central midfielder, and a fullback who won’t get injured (like every Arsenal fullback does).

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  10. Kaka no doubt is one of the best players in his position, he show it all tha time, and against AC Milan was just an exampl of that.

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  11. A lot of national teams today announcing rosters for friendlies next Wednesday. Any indication whether Klinsmann will do likewise?

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  12. These comments make SAF sound quite out of touch. Obviously Arsenal aren’t going to want to sell their captain, who scored 30+ goals last season, especially to their premiere league rivals. Can you imagine the high price and negotiations if Arsenal tried to buy Rooney.

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