Man City Agree Fee with Arsenal for Samir Nasri

Arsenal have confirmed terms have been agreed for France international midfielder Samir Nasri to move to Manchester City.

Nasri has been chased by City in recent weeks and Roberto Mancini had been anxious to finalise a deal for the former Marseille youngster, who was in the final season of his contract at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United reportedly had a bid rejected earlier in the summer, but Nasri is now on his way to the Etihad Stadium.

Reports over the weekend had suggested the deal had fallen through and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger subsequently claimed Nasri was happy in North London.

He had featured in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday and trained with the squad on Tuesday ahead of the UEFA Champions League qualifier with Udinese.

However, with the Gunners due to fly out to Italy on Tuesday afternoon, the club have now confirmed that Nasri is on the verge of signing for City.

A club statement read: "Arsenal can confirm that they have agreed terms for Samir Nasri to move to Manchester City.

"The 24-year-old midfielder, who has spent three years with the Gunners, has been omitted from Arsenal's squad which flies to Udinese this afternoon and instead will travel north for a medical.

"The move will be subject to Nasri passing a medical and formal registration processes."

Had Nasri travelled with Arsenal and featured against Udinese, it would have rendered him ineligible to play for City in the group phase of the Champions League.

Speaking after Sunday's 3-2 win at Bolton, Mancini suggested that such a scenario could have led to City ending their interest in the player.

"For 40 days I've hoped in two days, three days (it would be done), I don't know why we haven't closed it," said the City boss.

"It's a big problem (if he plays for Arsenal against Udinese) but I'm sure we can close in 24 hours, maybe 48. For Nasri it will be important he can play in all the Champions League matches."

City have reportedly agreed to pay in the region of £24million for Nasri, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has refused to sign a new deal.

That has ultimately forced the hand of Wenger, who insisted earlier this summer the midfielder would not be sold and must now weigh up bringing in reinforcements after also losing former captain Cesc Fabregas to boyhood club Barcelona.


Wenger will be walking on borrowed time if he doesn't get adequate replacements in. You can't replace your two best players with teenagers

source: sky sports

It really comes to something when even teams in the Champions League can't hold on to players when a megabucks club comes in for them. So just who is left among Premier League Clubs who can retain their players? Man U, Chelsea and, er, that's probaby it.
And say Barcelona offered £100 million for Rooney, do you think he wouldn't be sold ?

Arsenal need reinforcments and quick.

They are rumoured to be making a double bid for Jagielka and Arteta; although i think this is probably guff.

He's a class player but City are still poor negotiators, fact that money is almost unlimited at their disposal. Truth is that Wenger is to blame here, the amount of income a club that big makes with the highest priced tickets in the UK and probably Europe yet they continue with their policy of trying to entice cheap young players and the same mistakes will repeat.

Wenger is a good coach but a terrible tactician.

He must be trying to buy players.

Wonder if the board are the ones to blame?

samevans1 wrote:He must be trying to buy players.

Wonder if the board are the ones to blame?

Then obviously Wenger doesn't think much of Arsenal fans. Why stay at the club if nothing is getting done transfer wise? Is he losing the ambition to win things? Probably! Why has he bought Oxlade-Chamberlain for around £10 million when he needs a top class defender + CM? The other top 4 managers must be laughing at him....

sirfredperry wrote:It really comes to something when even teams in the Champions League can't hold on to players when a megabucks club comes in for them. So just who is left among Premier League Clubs who can retain their players? Man U, Chelsea and, er, that's probaby it.
And say Barcelona offered £100 million for Rooney, do you think he wouldn't be sold ?

Case in point: Ronaldo.