United 'hit a wall' with Van Persie bid

TRANSFER NEWS:ALEX FERGUSON has revealed Manchester United have hit a wall in their attempts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

Ferguson revealed on the recent tour of South Africa that United had made a bid for last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner.

United’s interest seems to have fended off competition from Manchester City and Juventus.

However, Arsene Wenger has never sold a player to United. And, from Ferguson’s comments to reporters following last night’s 2-0 penalty shoot-out defeat to Barcelona in Gothenburg (following a scoreless draw), it doesn’t appear he wants to start now.

“We have made a bid and they’ve been trying to negotiate with other clubs,” said Ferguson. “I don’t have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit. We’re not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal. It’s difficult to say why they’re operating this way. I don’t know what their thoughts are.”

There had been rumours circulating prior last night’s game that Van Persie was heading to Manchester for a medical. It seems they were wide of the mark.

“I can’t give you any more information,” said Ferguson. “We just have to persevere. We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there’s no progress.”

It was the second transfer blow of the day for United, who discovered prior to kick-off that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura had joined cash-rich Paris St-Germain.

Brendan Rodgers is close to his second signing as Liverpool manager after the club activated the £15 million (€19m) release clause in Joe Allen’s contract with Swansea City. The move follows an admission by the Liverpool manager that Daniel Agger could be sold but only for a “ridiculous” fee that would enable him to improve the squad.

Allen has been a target for Rodgers since he left Swansea for Anfield in June, despite Liverpool signing an agreement not to raid their manager’s former club for players for 12 months. Liverpool have exploited a technicality in Allen’s Swansea contract that allows him to join one of five specified clubs – Liverpool among them – for £15m and, having met the price, the Wales international is free to hold talks over a move to Merseyside.

The 22-year-old midfielder has been the subject of several bids from Liverpool this summer, with Swansea previously rejecting a deal of €15 million plus Jonjo Shelvey on loan. Allen’s expected transfer, Rodgers hopes, will address a key part of his plans for Liverpool’s midfield this season and precipitate increased activity in the transfer market.

Liverpool have held talks with Manchester City over the transfer of Agger but want far more than the €22 million City want to pay. The Anfield club value the Denmark defender at in excess of €27 million and would be interested in Adam Johnson as part of a deal, although the defender has told Rodgers he wishes to remain.

Agger’s position may change, the Liverpool manager admitted, should City make an offer that finances several signings at Anfield, where only Fabio Borini has been added to the squad so far. Rodgers is also keen on signing the Real Madrid midfielder and Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan.

“There has been contact [from City] but nowhere near the valuation of what the player is worth,” said Rodgers, who makes his Anfield bow against Gomel in the Europa League qualifier second leg today.

“You can only consider an offer for a player like that if it is going to benefit you. You don’t want to lose a top player but if it benefits you going forward and you can make two or three steps because of it – you may have to consider it.”

Guardian Service