RVP

Van Persie arrives at hospital to undergo medical as United transfer nears completion

 

Robin van Persie arrived at Bridgewater Hospital on Thursday night to undergo a medical ahead of his long-awaited move to Manchester United.

The 29-year-old's signing is expected to be announced on Friday morning from Arsenal for a reported fee of £24million, before the 12pm registration deadline for the weekend's Barclays Premier League games.

United fought off competition from Manchester City and Juventus to bring the Dutch striker to Old Trafford and hope he will be able to feature against Everton on Monday.

All smiles: Robin van Persie has arrived at Bridgewater Hospital to undergo his Manchester United medical

All smiles: Robin van Persie has arrived at Bridgewater Hospital to undergo his Manchester United medical

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed United will possess arguably Europe's most fearsome strike force when van Persie arrives.

Ferguson has spoken about the new-look attacking options of Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, and the comparisons with the 1999 set of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Speaking at a press conference, Ferguson said: 'They (Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie) are two fantastic players and it will be great to have both of them. It gives us more strength and more combinations up front.

'In 1999 I had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the four best strikers in Europe.

Let's go: Robin van Persie was filmed arriving at St Pancras off the Eurostar

'We are going towards that now with Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, Robin, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa.

It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully I pick the right combinations It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie's qualities to come into the squad. I am very pleased.'

Even one of the players whose place is threatened expressed his delight, with Welbeck keen to welcome Van Persie into the United fold.

'It is a massive boost to the club if Robin van Persie joins us,' he said. 'I am really looking forward to playing with him.

United front: Van Persie made it clear he would not sign a new deal at Arsenal

'His agent is in discussions with (United chief executive) David Gill right about now. We hope all the things will be tied up, although sometimes medicals do take a bit longer. I am sure he will be available for Monday's game.'

Arsene Wenger has admitted that Arsenal were powerless to stop Robin van Persie signing for Manchester United.

Wenger has the best part of two weeks to spend some of the money before the transfer window is closed. He said on French TV on Wednesday night: ‘It’s sad to lose a player of his quality. He had only one year left on his contract so we didn’t have the choice.’

Asked who he would recruit, Wenger said: 'We already signed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.'

Final hurdle: Sir Alex Ferguson has been busy in the transfer market this summer

Van Persie is the first Arsenal player to join United since Viv Anderson in 1987 and the move has riled Gunners fans, who took to Twitter to abuse him.

United are understood to have agreed a £15m downpayment for last season’s Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player — who scored 30 Premier League goals for last season. That will rise to £24m depending on appearances. Van Persie is expected to sign a four-year contract worth over £200,000 a week.

A statement on United’s website said: ‘Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal for the transfer of Robin van Persie. The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms.’

In signing Van Persie, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has laid down a clear marker ahead of the new season. It is the first time the club have paid  for a big name since Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham for £30.75m in 2008.

Having decided two or three years ago they would not sign players over the age of 27, United have signified just how far they are prepared to go to wrest the title back from City.

Talisman: Van Persie bagged the vast majority of Arsenal's goals last season