• Premier League

Mancini hints Van Persie more likely than Cavani

ESPN staff
June 2, 2012
Robin van Persie has one year left on his Arsenal deal © Getty Images
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes Robin van Persie is a more realistic transfer target than Edinson Cavani.

Mancini could look to bolster his frontline this summer and has subsequently been linked with a swoop for Arsenal striker Van Persie, whose contract expires in the summer of 2013.

The Italian coach is also an admirer of Napoli's Cavani, but he accepts that the Uruguay international would command a higher fee than his Dutch counterpart.

Mancini told Tuttosport: "Who would I choose between Van Persie and Cavani? The Dutchman is a champion, while the Uruguayan has everything and I wanted to take him to Inter Milan when he played at Palermo.

"But to take him at the current price is impossible and Van Persie is a different matter altogether."

Mancini could also look to add to his defensive options, although he has played down claims he could move for Juventus' Giorgio Chiellini and AC Milan's Thiago Silva.

"Chiellini? I thought about him last year, not now. There are many other options. Thiago Silva? AC Milan will not sell him."

Mancini went on to conclude that he hopes to keep both Carlos Tevez and Aleksandar Kolarov at the Etihad Stadium despite conjecture surrounding their futures.

"Tevez? I have forgiven him, even if he didn't play much. He will stay, unless he asks to leave," Mancini said. "Kolarov? I would like to keep him even though he didn't play that much in the last few months and that is a difficult situation for him to accept."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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