Arsenal face exodus as Manchester City make a play for Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri
Arsenal are facing the potential loss of three first-team regulars this summer, with Manchester City confident of a £7 million deal for Gaël Clichy and now rivalling Manchester United in their interest for Samir Nasri.
By Jeremy Wilson and Rory Smith
11:19PM BST 30 Jun 2011
Communication between Arsenal and Barcelona is also ongoing over Cesc Fabregas as the two clubs try to find a compromise on a deal worth around £37 million.
Although manager Arsène Wenger is understood to be willing to allow Fabregas and Clichy to leave at the right price, he is unlikely to sanction the departure of Nasri to another Premier League club if he has already lost Fabregas.
Sources in Italy have also confirmed the interest of AC Milan in Nasri and, while Wenger has still not given up hope of persuading the 24 year-old to sign a new contract, he would be more comfortable with one of his most prized assets moving to a club outside of England.
Nasri has entered the final year of his contract and so could potentially leave for nothing next summer. It places Arsenal in a difficult position, particularly as Manchester United are believed to be preparing an offer of £20 million. City’s interest in Nasri is likely to develop if they fail to sign Alexis Sánchez, but they have now made their move for Clichy.
The France full-back’s contract also expires next season and, with Arsenal understood to be unwilling to match his demands of a wage increase from £50,000 to around £80,000 a week, there is a clear sense that his eight years at the club are coming to an end. Manchester City hope to clinch a £7 million deal when Clichy returns to England.
Although Clichy would be the last of the ‘Invincible’ squad of 2003-4 to leave, Arsenal have Kieran Gibbs as an emerging replacement while Thomas Vermaelen has considerable experience at left-back. There have also been doubts over Clichy’s defensive contribution over the past two seasons.
Arsenal are close to confirming some signings of their own — potential deals for Gervinho, Gary Cahill and Ricardo Alvarez are understood to be the most advanced — but there is mounting concern from fans at the prospect of losing such key players.
There was also a strong reaction on Thursday from Lee Dixon, the former Arsenal right-back. “If you don’t want to wear the cannon then please leave with dignity and @@@@ off,” Dixon wrote on Twitter.
Liverpool were also interested in Clichy and had a £5 million bid turned down, but owner John Henry has reassured fans that the club will succeed in reinforcing Kenny Dalglish’s squad this summer.
Liverpool have already lost out on Phil Jones and Ashley Young to Manchester United, seen Sylvain Marveaux choose Newcastle and failed to procure the Roma goalkeeper Doni, while earlier this week the club were outbid by Sunderland for the Ipswich forward Connor Wickham.
“We are determined to build,” said Henry. “As long as we stay within the parameters Uefa has set forth under its Financial Fair Play rules, we will have flexibility.”
Liverpool remain favourites to sign both Charlie Adam, of Blackpool, and Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing, though both moves have ground to a halt in recent days.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8609685/Arsenal-face-exodus-as-Manchester-City-make-a-play-for-Gael-Clichy-and-Samir-Nasri.html
