http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10837458/Manchester-City-ready-to-hold-talks-with-Arsenal-defender-Bacary-Sagna-after-FA-Cup-final-against-Hull.html
Manchester City ready to hold talks with Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna after FA Cup final against Hull
Wembley showpiece likely to be Frenchman's last game for Arsenal after rejecting new deals at the Emirates
Manchester City are preparing to hold formal talks with Bacary Sagna after what will almost certainly be his last match for Arsenal in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Sagna has played more games for Arsenal than any current player but has turned down a series of offers to extend his contract beyond the end of this season, including what would have been an unprecedented three-year deal for a 31-year-old.
As a free agent, Sagna can negotiate with whoever he wants after Saturday’s Wembley showpiece and Manchester City are ready to pay him a basic package worth £100,000-a-week that is also believed to include the option for a fourth year.
Arsenal have repeatedly made it clear that they are no longer prepared to increase their offer, meaning Sagna could agree a deal with City before the World Cup and conceivably even as early as next week.
Although City have Pablo Zabaleta at right-back, Sagna would offer competition and added squad depth.
As City try to comply with Uefa’s Financial Fair-Play regulations next season, the fact that he is free and could offer cover at centre-back are other attractions.
Arsène Wenger will start with Sagna in the final but has already begun looking for a replacement.
His major selection quandary is in goal, with Lukasz Fabianksi still optimistic on Friday of starting ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.
Fabianksi, who is also out of contract this summer, has played in every round of the FA Cup but Szczesny has been the first choice in the Premier League and Champions League.
Wenger did publicly name Fabianski as his goalkeeper before the semi-final and is now only saying that he will “do what it takes to win the game”.
Captain Thomas Vermaelen should be on the bench and, although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also included last night in the provisional squad, he faces a morning fitness test to decide his availability. He is unlikely to be risked.
Wenger also reiterated that his own future will not be decided by the outcome against Hull.
“When I’ve been part of a club for 18 years, it would be a bit ridiculous to base my decision on one single match,” he said.
“Will I be the manager next season? Yes, normally. It’s not completely finalised yet, but it should happen.”
