Arsenal Football Club will not break the bank to keep hold of Robin van Persie.

The Dutch international is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, and Arsene Wenger is desperate to tie his captain to a new contract.

If van Persie decides against extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium, he will likely leave with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United interested.

Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood still hopes to persuade the 28-year-old to stay, but he admits he will be unable to do so if the striker is demanding a huge salary.

"He is vital to us and has been an extremely good captain," he told the Sunday Mirror. "But if somebody comes along and offers Robin £250,000 a week then I am afraid we cannot compete with that.

"I just hope that Robin will be with us next season because I genuinely feel we can make a real challenge for the Premier League title.”

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