Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes that it will be difficult for Arsenal to reject his advances for Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman has been made a top priority for the Citizens after notching 30 Premier League goals for the Gunners last season.

With just a year left to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium, Mancini suggested that Arsene Wenger could be fighting a losing battle to keep hold of his star man.

The Italian said that it would be "impossible" to sign another of his reported targets, Edinson Cavani, but stated that Van Persie's availability is another matter.

"Van Persie is world class," The Mirror quotes Mancini as saying. "Cavani has ­everything. When he was playing for Palermo, I wanted to take him to Inter.

"To sign Cavani at his present valuation is impossible. For Van Persie, it is a bit different.

"Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri were a year before the end of their contracts and for Arsene Wenger it was difficult to keep them."

Reports had circulated on Twitter suggesting that the 28-year-old had signed a new contract at Arsenal.