Roberto Mancini is thought to have approached the Manchester City board for the release of the required funds to try and sign Robin van Persie, Mirror Football report.

The Dutch forward is in the last year of his contract at Arsenal, and despite the Gunners being desperate to keep their captain at the Emirates Stadium, the attacker is yet to sign a new deal.

The PFA Player of the Year is thought to have rejected a record-setting offer from Arsene Wenger's men to extend his stay with the north London club, with a number of big European clubs monitoring the situation.

City are said to have put Van Persie to the top of their summer transfer wishlist, and have a track record of signing players from Arsenal.

Mancini is keen to start negotiations with Arsenal in a bid to try and persuade Van Persie to seek out a move to the Premier League champions, but there is thought to have been a dispute as the City board want to offload out-of-favour strikers Edin Dzeko and Emmanuel Adebayor first.

By Gareth McKnight

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