LONDON — Robin van Persie (RVP) returned to training with Arsenal on Monday insisting he still wants to quit.
And it seems the Gunners have given up on their skipper staying too, as their latest online catalogue does not even feature him.
Now the £30 million-rated Dutch striker is demanding fresh talks with boss Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
RVP (28) wants his future sorted out before the squad leave for a Far East tour on Saturday.
An Arsenal spokesman confirmed: “Robin returned to training on Monday as expected and made it clear he wants to sit down and resolve the matter of his future, either way, as soon as possible.
“No date has yet been agreed for that meeting.” RVP, who has a year left on his Arsenal deal, is wanted by Man City, Man United, Juventus and Real Madrid.
But last season’s top Premier League scorer, with 30 goals, does not feature at all in the latest online club catalogue. There are even club T-shirts for lesser lights such as Per Mertesacker.
RVP helped launch the Gunners’ new home kit in April, but he has been airbrushed out of the latest online brochure, which highlights the team’s new purple away kit.
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RVP wants to quit the Gunners to chase football’s biggest prizes but if the matter remains unresolved by the weekend, he will still go to the Far East.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate to land Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.
And he is ready to finance a £15 million bid by selling Kop flop Andy Carroll.
Walcott has one year left to run on his contract and has yet to agree a new deal at the Emirates.
He earns £65 000 a week and is looking to be brought into line with other England internationals in the Premier League on £100 000 a week.
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is ready to make an official bid for Walcott (23) while former Blues chief Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the player to Paris St Germain.
But Rodgers, looking to bring in new faces on Merseyside, believes Walcott could become a major star at Anfield.
On Monday night, Liverpool knocked back Newcastle’s offer to take former Toon ace Carroll back on loan. It is thought Kop bosses want a permanent deal to raise money for new signings.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is likely to come back with a new offer to take Carroll on a cut-price permanent deal — just 18 months after selling the 6ft 3in striker for £35 million. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is desperate to keep Walcott — especially with RVP refusing to sign a new deal — but some members of Emirates board would be prepared to cash in now.
Walcott was one of England’s better performers at Euro 2012 and he was man-of-the-match against Sweden.
