Huntelaar Prepared to Join Arsenal Now RVP Has Departed – Report

Klaas Jan Huntelaar would be prepared to join Arsenal now that his international team-mate Robin Van Persie has left the club.

The Mirror has reported that the two strikers have previously clashed while representing Holland, and that Huntelaar had stated that he would not be prepared to join Arsenal while Van Persie was at the club.

The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been plenty of speculation that he could leave Schalke for a cut price deal during the January transfer window.

However, with Schalke qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, it is perhaps more likely that he will assess his future in the summer, when he would be available on a free transfer.

Arsenal have witnessed first-hand the clinical nature of the forward who scored in both European games against the north London club this season.

Huntelaar has scored four goals in the Champions League this season, which comes on the bag of a staggering campaign which saw him finish as the top scorer in Germany and fire 49 goals in all competitions.

The Mirror believes that Huntelaar would be prepared to move to the Emirates now that his fiery relationship with Van Persie would no longer stand in the way.

Last week former Holland striker Erik Meijer suggested that Arsenal were the favourites to sign Huntelaar as he was prepared to walk away from the German side.

"According to the ­information I have, Huntelaar will be gone in the winter. Arsenal are the favourites," said Meijer, whose agent Arnold Oosterveer also represents Huntelaar.

However, Schalke general manager Horst Heidt recently dismissed the link to Arsenal when quizzed by Sky Germany.

"It's pure speculation. Either Arsenal make us an offer, otherwise it's a load of nonsense," said Heidt.

Huntelaar has continually been linked with a move to the Premier League as it is the one top division in Europe that he has not played in after spells in Holland, Spain, Italy and Germany.