EXCLUSIVE

By Salvatore Landolina

Italian champions Juventus are edging ahead in the race to sign Robin Van Persie as they map a new path of luring Arsenal's want-away striker to Serie A, Socceranchor.com can reveal.

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta has been exploring ways of bringing the Dutchman to Italy after he refused to sign a new deal with the Premier League side beyond his current 2013 terms in London.

A pre-Euro 2012 bid of €10million was rejected by Arsenal, but having recently spoken to Van Persie and his father around a table at Juve's Corso Gallileo Ferraris headquarters, the Italian giants are gaining a growing confidence over signing the player.

Socceranchor.com understands dialogue has been well established with Van Persie and his entourage, but initial talks over wages, which could amount to €21m over four years, failed to go a long way in closing a door that remains wide open.

Van Purse-ie: Juventus ready to offer fresh terms over wage package

Van Persie, who turns 29 next month, told Juventus he wants at least €7m per annum over a three year deal. The Italians by contrast, responded with a €5m a season deal over four years, telling the player to spread his salary demands with an extra year in the contract and earning €1m less over its duration.

New talks are planned with Van Persie and his father over the next month and Marotta is keen to convince the striker into accepting his offer by adjusting the financial detail and adding a series of new bonuses into a deal which could see the striker earn an extra €3m per season.

Juventus believe refreshing initial terms with a piece-meal contract on the promise the forward will earn an extra €1m if he scores more than 20 goals a season, €1m if the club wins another Serie A title and €1m should the he play in more than 80 percent of competitive games, will see Van Persie put pen to paper.

Hopeful Van Persie will not snub a new arrangement over personal terms, Marotta is ready to increase the rejected €10m offer to the Gunners and has set a a transfer fee limit between €15m and €18m to convince them into selling now rather than losing him on a free deal next year.

Reports claim Juve are still keen on Napoli's Edinson Cavani and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, but no concrete talks have taken place with either player, leaving Van Persie as the club's number one transfer target alongside Premier League giants Manchester City and Manchester United.