Thursday Transfer News Wrap;
Nasri To Make City Debut Against Man Utd?
Thursday, August 04, 2011 | Comments: 4
As the Samir Nasri transfer saga continues, reports on Thursday suggest that the Frenchman could make an appearance for Manchester City in the Community Shield against Manchester United as Arsenal are liklely to accept the £22million bid.
If Arsenal accept the offer from City, it is thought the transfer will be rushed through before the Community Shield at Wembley on August 7th, which means the French international could line-up against Sir Alex Ferguson's side who are also chasing his signature.
The United boss did look close to securing Nasri's signature earlier this summer, but City are now leading the race and Sir Alex seems to have turned his attention to Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
Arsene Wenger recently offered the 24-year-old a new deal at the Emirates, which was turned down, and the club is resigned to losing the midfielder on a free next summer.
It is rumoured that Nasri will be offered a deal of £125,000-a-week, just £10,000-a-week more than he would pick up at Old Trafford or Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Sandro Rossell has reportedly sent Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas a text message telling him to 'keep calm' at Arsenal, as the two clubs continue to negotiate the midfielder's transfer.
The Catalans allegedly failed in a second bid for the Gunners skipper on Monday, said to be worth around £33milion, which is still £7m short of Arsenal’s £40m valuation of the midfielder.
But Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo has claimed Fabregas has received assurance from Rossell that negotiations are progressing, and to keep believing that a deal will materialize.
News from Etihad Stadium also reflect that Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has pleaded with his club Inter Milan to sanction a move to Manchester City after falling out with the Inter management.
Inter remain interested in Carlos Tevez and that will fuel talk of a possible swap, but City value Tevez higher.
City also expect Emmanuel Adebayor’s future to be decided over the next few days with the 27-year-old pushing for his dream move to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, other reports indicate that Inter Milan are keen to swap Brazilian defender Maicon for Tevez but City do not agree with the Italian club's valuations of the players.