Arsenal plan clear-out to keep van Persie

LONDON: Arsenal are ready to cull their fringe players as Arsene Wenger prepares to rebuild his side to ensure that the club can compete among the best in Europe.

The move is two-fold: The money saved from the clear-out will allow the Frenchman to award captain Robin Van Persie an improved contract, and it can provide him with the resources to buy at least two big-name players.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal want to offload Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Carlos Vela and Park Chu Young. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who is on &pound60,000 (S$120,000) per week, is certain to go in the summer when his current deal expires.

Combined, these eight players cost Arsenal &pound23 million in wages a year.

Recent club accounts have shown the wage bill has increased by &pound20 million, despite losing the services of big earners Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.

And, while Arsenal currently have a wage ceiling of about &pound100,000 a week, their hierarchy is looking to break that in order to offer their top stars competitive salaries.

They are keen to offer &pound80,000-a-week van Persie a new long-term deal worth &pound120,000 a week.

The striker, who has already scored 26 goals in the Premier League this season, has intimated that all talks about his future are on hold until the summer, when he will enter the final 12 months of his existing deal.

And retaining one of Europe's most lethal marksmen is a priority for Arsenal as his decision to stay could help attract other stars to the London club, who are on a seven-year title drought.

Their last Premier League title came in 2004 and an FA Cup win in 2005.

Lille's &pound35 million-rated forward Eden Hazard, 21, has been linked with a move to the Emirates, while it is believed that Wenger is ready to fork out &pound17 million for Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila, 21.

The manager also has plans to tie Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down to Arsenal by offering the 18-year-old an improved contract following an impressive debut season.

The winger reportedly earns about &pound20,000 a week and that should increase following a pay rise.

Another player set to be rewarded is Alex Song.

The Cameroon international's existing deal is worth around &pound55,000 a week and expires in the summer of 2014. But Wenger is keen to hand his influential midfielder a five-year deal which would take his earnings to around &pound75,000 a week, reported the Daily Mail.