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Robin van Persie is closing in on a sensational £20million-plus move after Arsenal officially began negotiations with Manchester United.

The Mirror can reveal the two clubs spent Tuesday night talking about a deal which could now be pushed through before the Premier League kick-off this weekend.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to settle on a fee of just above £20m as United prepare to increase their offer for the Dutch forward, who is currently on international duty but won't be in the starting line-up when Holland play Belgium on Wednesday night.

It is understood the clubs are very close to agreement on a fee.

Arsenal would rather sell now than lose van Persie, who has already said publicly he will not extend a contract that is into its final year, on a free transfer next summer.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already had a £15m bid turned down, and has reservations about paying a bigger fee for a 29-year-old who has one year left on his contract and a chequered injury record.

But United are now prepared to go higher to get their man as they set about taking the Premier League title back from neighbours Manchester City.

Fergie made direct contact with Wenger earlier in the week to try to push the deal through after weeks of posturing.

The clubs are likely to find a middle ground which means it is highly possible van Persie will be on the move and will therefore not be involved in Arsenal’s opening game against Sunderland.

(Image: Reuters)

Van Persie has made it clear that United is his preferred destination, ahead of Manchester City and Juventus, and that has prompted Arsenal to sell now.

Wenger is also understood to be ready to cash in on Alex Song, who is a target for Barcelona.

Arsenal will then look to bring in Real Madrid’s Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin on a one-year loan.

(Image: Victor Fraile)

Liverpool are also keen and are prepared to pay a higher proportion of his £80,000-a-week wages, but the player would prefer to go to the Gunners.

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Wenger will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Saturday’s Sunderland game through injury.

Gunners winger Theo Walcott also pulled out of the England squad with a thigh problem on Tuesday, but is hopeful of being fit for the weekend.

Click here to find out why MirrorFootball's Ed Malyon reckons Manchester United AND Arsenal will be stronger if RvP moves to Old Trafford.