［Van Persie could be next Overmars］
If Robin van Persie signs for Arsenal, comparisons will inevitably be made with his brilliant Dutch compatriot Dennis Bergkamp. But a better likeness might be with former Highbury winger - and another Dutchman - Marc Overmars.
Van Persie, 20, has made his name at Feyenoord as a fleet-footed left winger who can whip in excellent crosses and has an eye for goal: he has scored 13 times in 46 appearances for the Rotterdam club.
Rated one of the best young players in Holland, he has been capped at Under-21 level and is tipped for a call-up to the full international squad.
As revealed by Standard Sport yesterday, Arsenal are close to securing the signature of van Persie.
Feyenoord have rejected their initial bid of £3million but vice-chairman David Dein is now set to offer £5m to seal the deal before the transfer window closes on 31 January.
In recent years, the Highbury faithful have been spoiled in wide positions by the exploits of Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg and there will be high expectations placed on van Persie's young shoulders.
Comparisons with Overmars, who was a huge success in his three years at Arsenal before his £25m move to Barcelona, may be a little premature.
But if van Persie can live up to his undoubted potential, Arsene Wenger may be about to land another unpolished gem to rank with his purchases of Nicolas Anelka, Patrick Vieria, Thierry Henry and Kolo Toure.
Ruud Gullit has already warned that van Persie would struggle to get into the Arsenal team.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle manager, who takes over at Feyenoord in the summer, said: "I know how it works at a club like Arsenal and you can imagine that Robin will hardly play there in his first few years.
"I don't imagine that a player like Robert Pires will be on the bench in favour of Robin."
However, van Persie does not lack confidence in his ability and, like many Dutch footballers, is not afraid to express his opinions.
When he was put on the substitutes' bench last season following a spell out with a back injury, the youngster publicly criticised his coach Bert van Marwyk. A series of disputes followed and the player so infuriated van Marwyk that the Feyenoord boss banished him to the reserves.
Van Persie was eventually reinstated to the first team but then complained that he would rather play in a central striking role than on the left wing.
In October, chairman Jorien van den Herik claimed that the player's personal demands for a new contract were excessive and complained: "I hope that he returns to earth soon."
However, what is of little doubt is that van Persie has an excellent pedigree.
He was drafted into the Feyenoord first team at the age of 18 and played a starring role in the side which lifted the UEFA Cup in 2002. Despite the run-ins with van Marwyk last season, he still scored eight goals from midfield.
Van Marwyk said: "Robin is a fantastic talent and we would like to build a team around him. We have tried many times to get him to sign a new contract, but the boy refuses to sign."
A move for van Persie makes sense from Arsenal's point of view.
He can play as a support striker as well as on the left wing and may be considered a long-term partner for Henry.
Although Francis Jeffers is set to return to Arsenal next season, Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord are out of contract in the summer and Kanu's Highbury future is shrouded in doubt.
"For Robin it is a dream to continue his career abroad with a top team," said van Persie's adviser Erwin Boonacker.
"In December, Robin was visited by an Arsenal representative and we informed Feyenoord about the interest from London. When Feyenoord and Arsenal reach an agreement [about a fee], we will start negotiations with Arsenal."
[此贴子已经被作者于2004-1-22 4:25:24编辑过]
