United waiting on RVP

Robin van Persie: The Arsenal striker does not want to sign a new contract at Emirates Stadium

Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful of signing Robin van Persie but Manchester United are still struggling to make progress with Arsenal.

The Old Trafford boss in July confirmed he had made a bid for the Gunners striker, who does not want sign a new contract at Emirates Stadium.

United's rivals, Premier League champions Manchester City, and Juventus also want Van Persie but meeting Arsenal's asking price is proving difficult.

Ferguson is determined to get his man, having already missed out on Lucas Moura after the Brazilian's move to Paris Saint Germain was confirmed earlier on Wednesday.

But after watching his side lose a high-profile friendly on penalties to Barcelona in Gothenburg, Ferguson said about Van Persie: "I can't give you any more information.

No gut feeling

"We have made a bid and they (Arsenal) have been trying to negotiate with other clubs. We just have to persevere.

"Hopefully it will come our way. We are trying our best but there is no progress at this moment in time.

"I do not have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit. We are not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal.

"It is difficult to say why they are operating this way. I do not know what their thoughts are because they are not giving anything away."

Meanwhile, Ferguson thinks PSG's €45million (£35.5m) signing of teenager Moura is further evidence of the transfer market spiralling out of control and is interested to see how it works with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.

Amazing

The Scot said: "I find it quite amazing that a club can pay €45million for a 19-year-old boy."

Ferguson continued: "To make a mark on everyone - to tell everyone that PSG are here - they have signed Thiago Silva from Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"They must have spent about £150m in the last month. As you know, the only deterrent to that is UEFA.

"In the conditions of European football, you don't qualify for Europe by winning the league or coming second - you only get in by invitation.

"That's where, hopefully, UEFA can have some power. When somebody's paying £45m for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."