Arsenal lures Fabregas for £35 million as Nasri looks to finalize Manchester United move

Barcelona and Aresnal were locked in talks on Wednesday over Cesc Fabregas with Barcelona increasingly confident they will get Fabregas to the Nou Camp in a deal woth 35 million pounds. The Arsenal exodus would also see both wiz Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy boosting the ranks of Manchester United.

Although a new Fabregas bid was not formally tabled, Barcelona were back in contact with Arsenal following their rejection last week of a 27 million pounds offer. The talks on Wednesday were understood to be productive and while there remains some difference in valuations, there is mounting sense is most protracted transfer saga is finally nearing an end. Barcelona have increase their valuation of Fabregas to almost 35 million pounds with Arsenal believed to be holding out of that, with add-ons, they can present to their fans as more like 40 million pounds

Significantly, Arsenal have adopted a very different strategy with Barcelona to last summer, when they would not entertain any form of talks. They also quickly issued a public statement to make it clear that their captain was not for sale. Arsenal’s engagement in private correspondence this summer suggests an acceptance that they will not block Fabregas’s departure as long as there is an acceptable offer. From a PR perspective, it would also be helpful for them to clinch one or more of their own transfer targets — they have made significant progress on Gervinho, Gary Cahill and Ricardo Alvarez — before any announcement on Fabregas.

Fabregas is currently in Spain and said he was “calm” when asked on Wedneday about his future. “If a player is on the market it is because a club doesn’t want you”, he said

Nasri and Clichy could also be following Fabregas out of the Emirates. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that a £20 million bid could be enough to lure Nasri. Despite Arsène Wenger’s insistence earlier this month that, “one thing’s for sure: we’re not selling him [Nasri] to Manchester United”, Ferguson has become encouraged by his chances of landing the French international.

With the player refusing to commit to a new contract, Arsenal risk losing the 24 year-old for nothing when his deal expires next summer. United have been informed that Nasri is prepared to leave for Old Trafford. Yet Wenger’s resistance to selling one of his best players to United, particularly if it coincides with the loss of Fabregas, is likely to provide a formidable obstacle to Ferguson

Talks involving third parties linked to United and Nasri took place earlier this month and senior figures at Old Trafford believe the economics of the deal, with Arsenal standing to receive a substantial fee for a player entering the final year of his contract, will ultimately prove decisive in their favour.
Manchester City are monitoring Nasri’s situation, with the player listed as a secondary target, but are ready to bid £7 million for defender Clichy .
United have taken their summer spending to £49.8 million by completing the £18.3 million signing of Atlético Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea. He is set to make his debut against Seattle Sounders on July 20.
United chief executive David Gill has claimed that the punishment meted out to Ferguson and Wayne Rooney by the Football Association last season has added to the belief at Old Trafford that United are victims of disciplinary double standards.
“I genuinely believe there have been some poorish decisions that, in my opinion, wouldn’t necessarily have hit other clubs,” said Gill. “What better way to demonstrate the authorities are being tough than by hitting one of the biggest clubs the hardest?”

Manchester United in a 20 Million pounds deal for Nasri 

Despite the insistence of Arsene Wenger earlier this month that, 'One thing's for sure: we're not selling him (Nasri) to Manchester United,' Ferguson has become increasingly confident in his chances of prising Nasri from Arsenal.

With the player refusing to commit to a new contract at the Emirates, Arsenal risk losing the France international for nothing when his current deal expires next summer and United have been informed that Nasri is prepared to leave Arsenal for Old Trafford.

Wenger’s resistance to selling one of his best players to United, particularly if it coincides with the loss of captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, is likely to provide a formidable obstacle to Ferguson’s attempts to sign Nasri.

Talks involving third parties linked to United and Nasri took place earlier this month and senior figures at Old Trafford believe that the economics of the deal, with Arsenal standing to receive a substantial fee for a player entering the final year of his contract, will ultimately prove decisive in their favour.

Manchester City are monitoring Nasri’s situation, with the former Marseille player listed as a secondary target should priority signings fail to arrive at Eastlands. 

But with Arsenal due to report for pre-season training next Tuesday, United are ready to make their move in an effort to capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Nasri and Fabregas.

United took their summer spending to £49.8m by completing the £18.3m signing of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea on Wednesday.

The Spain U21 keeper, who has yet to learn English, is set to make his debut against Seattle Sounders on July 20.

Meanwhile, United chief executive David Gill has claimed that the punishment meted out to Ferguson and Wayne Rooney by the Football Association last season has added to the belief at Old Trafford that United are victims of disciplinary double standards.

Ferguson received a five-match touchline ban and £30,000 fine for comments about referee Martin Atkinson, while Rooney was suspended for two games as punishment for swearing into a television camera.

Gill, an FA board member, said: "I do genuinely believe there have been some poor-ish decisions that, in my opinion, wouldn’t necessarily have hit other clubs.

"That’s not to say I’m condoning Wayne’s comments, because I don’t think they were correct, or what Sir Alex said [about Atkinson] because it wasn’t helpful.

"But at the same time, the actual punishments were harsh. We’re possibly being caught up in being one of the biggest clubs and the 'Respect' agenda being there.

"What better way to demonstrate the authorities are being tough than by hitting one of the biggest clubs the hardest?" Gill, speaking in 'Champ19ns - The Inside Story of United's 19th League Title,' added: "Wayne recognised it was wrong and apologised almost immediately.

"We have various issues with the ban: one being consistency. What’s going to happen now? Is the referee under pressure to send everyone off?

"I think sometimes in celebration people do swear and all that means is that, to my mind, it’s a dangerous course the FA have gone down, because consistent application is what’s required and I’m not sure that’ll necessarily happen.

"There are certain things you should wait until the start of the season to change.

"But it’s a lesson to Wayne. He’s subsequently scored a great goal against Chelsea and smiled - that’s what we want to see.

"There should be exuberance, but you look at the abuse he was subjected to and I know people say you’ve got to rise above it, but I defy anyone being vilified to that level to always retain your cool."

[Telegraph]
Haha, is Arsenal ready for this?