Gunners boss also wants to bring in Wilfried Zaha, Luke Shaw and Pepe Reina during the January window
Arsene Wenger wants Sir Alex Ferguson to return his Robin van Persie “favour” – by agreeing to sell him Nani in the January window.
Arsenal boss Wenger has targeted Manchester United’s out-of-favour winger as he looks to strengthen his squad next month.
United manager Ferguson made a personal call to Wenger last summer and persuaded him to sell van Persie for £24m even though he was going to a direct rival.
And now Wenger is ready to call in the favour by asking him to let Nani join Arsenal as the Portuguese is on his way out after reaching a contract stalemate at United.
It will always be seen as a gamble and a hugely unpopular move selling to a bitter rival. Wenger has since confirmed that he wanted van Persie to go abroad rather than United but Juventus refused to meet Arsenal’s asking price.
Van Persie has been a huge success at Old Trafford and has helped United move seven points clear in the Premier League title race but his absence has left Arsenal languishing outside of the top four.
Wenger wants to strengthen his wide areas especially as he has told Andrey Arshavin he can go, Gervinho is going to the African Cup of Nations and Theo Walcott’s future is uncertain.
But Wenger has indicated he now sees Walcott as a striker even if he stays and that leaves Arsenal looking to bring in new wide players in January and next summer.
They also remain keen on Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha but Nani is seen as an experienced international who could add ready-made quality in January.
Wenger has been told he can buy big and is able to afford Nani’s transfer fee which could top £12m while it is believed he has revised his wage demands and Arsenal could go to £90,000-a-week.
Arsenal will also look to offload Marouane Chamakh in January with West Ham ready to make a bid to sign him on loan while Fiorentina, Juventus and his former club Bordeaux are also interested.
Wenger is also interested in Southampton’s young left back Luke Shaw as they look to sell Brazilian flop Andre Santos in January.
Arsenal remain in the market for a new keeper as Liverpool’s Pepe Reina is top of the shopping list if Brendan Rodgers decides to cash in to try and bolster his squad elsewhere. They want Birmingham’s Jack Butland.
Meanwhile, Wenger reckons Theo Walcott can learn to be a top class striker from Thierry Henry.