By Phil McNulty Chief football writer Nasri has only 12 months left on his contract with Arsenal
Manchester United remain hopeful of signing Samir Nasri after making a near-£20m bid for Arsenal's French international midfielder.
BBC Sport can confirm reports that United made an official offer for the 24-year-old within the last fortnight, and that the bid remains on the table.
Nasri has so far refused to extend his Arsenal contract, which has only 12 months to run.
He is expected to meet Arsene Wenger for talks within the next 24 hours.
Wenger is already facing the prospect of losing captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, having sold Gael Clichy to Manchester City on Monday.
The Arsenal manager is determined not to sell Nasri to United but knows the player could leave for nothing if he sits out the last year of his deal.
Chelsea and Manchester City have also been strongly linked with Nasri, and Wenger is reluctant to see one of his key performers, and a player he would like as a cornerstone of a rebuilt Arsenal team, move to one of his Premier League rivals.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, however, is determined to strengthen his midfield after the retirement of Paul Scholes and with Ryan Giggs coming to the end of his career.
Tottenham's Luka Modric and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder have been touted as possible Ferguson targets, but the fact that United have made a firm offer for Nasri suggests they are optimistic that a deal can be done, despite Wenger's determination not to sell - and especially to Old Trafford.
Arsenal have offered Nasri an improved, long-term deal at the Emirates and were confident he would sign towards the end of last season, but doubts have grown throughout the summer and suitors are encouraged they can now prise him away from Arsenal.
Inter open the door for United to snap up £35m Sneijder
Manchester United were last night given the green light to make a £35million bid for Wesley Sneijder, as Inter Milan admitted they are considering selling the Dutch midfielder.
Sir Alex Ferguson's quest for Sneijder appeared to have gone cold when the former Real Madrid schemer suggested he planned to stay at the San Siro.
But new Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini is now ready to sell the 27-year-old after completing the £10.8million capture of Arsenal target Ricky Alvarez from Argentine champions Velez Sarsfield.
That opens the door for Fergie to make his move and land Sneijder as the final piece of his summer transfer jigsaw.
United have trailed Sneijder - who was also on Chelsea's target list - all summer in the wake of their Champions League Final defeat by Barcelona, with the Old Trafford boss looking to add a fantasy dimension to his side's attacking armoury.
Sneijder, the star of Inter's 2010 Champions League-winning campaign under Jose Mourinho and one of the players of last summer's World Cup, ticks all the right boxes for United.
Gasperini appeared to be preparing for the Dutchman's departure.
"At the moment, Inter have every intention of keeping Sneijder," he said. "What is clear is that Sneijder is a key player. But at the same time it is difficult to predict what the situation will be in 50 or 60 days and we have to wait and see what happens."
That is an open invitation for United to make their move, with Inter privately making it known they value Sneijder at £35m.
Ferguson has already signed Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, Blackburn's England Under-21 defender Phil Jones and Aston Villa's England attacking midfielder Ashley Young but Sneijder, a proven winner with some of Europe's biggest clubs, could be the new jewel in the Old Trafford crown.
Inter are keen to start an auction involving multiple clubs, but the need for a sale has been heightened because of their parlous financial position.
Gasperini has been told that he has to fund any summer transfers from sales.
In addition to Alvarez, the new San Siro coach is targeting Barcelona's Jonathan Dos Santos, Genoa's Argentine striker Rodrigo Palacio and Valencia's Evra Banegra.
The quartet will cost around £30m, as Macedonian striker Goran Pandev is refusing to move to Genoa in part-exchange for Palacio.
"We have to sell, then after we have sold we will see what Inter will buy," said Inter chief executive Ernesto Paolillo. "The first move will be selling and not buying."
Inter's recent accounts showed lost a staggering £449m over the three years to 2009.
Paolillo added: "Absolutely, we are thinking of UEFA's rules on Financial Fair Play.
"That's why we will start selling, otherwise we will not buy anything.
"But of course we don't want to say who we will sell because that would not be a good thing for us to do in the market."
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas close to £35 million move to European champions Barcelona
Barcelona and Arsenal were locked in talks on Wednesday over Cesc Fabregas, with the European champions increasingly confident they can agree a deal worth around £35 million, while Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy could both be heading out of the Emirates up to Manchester.
Transfer saga: Cesc Fabregas has been linked with Barca for last two yearsPhoto: AFP
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 offer. The talks on Wedneday were understood to be productive and, while there remains some difference in the valuations, there is a mounting sense that this most protracted transfer saga is finally nearing an end. Barcelona have increased their valuation of Fabregas to almost £35 million, with Arsenal believed to be holding out for a deal that, with add-ons, they can present to their fans as more like £40 million.
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?”
Barcelona have made an improved £34m offer for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and are also hoping to recruit Samir Nasri for £20m. Full story: Daily Mirror
BARCELONA are ready to make a shock £27.5million raid for Chelsea defender David Luiz - just five months after he joined the Blues for £21.3m.
The Brazilian, signed from Benfica, has indicated he might listen to an offer from Barca, but only if Chelsea give their blessing.
Luiz, 24, has made a big impression in his 12 Premier League outings, scoring twice as he helped the Stamford Bridge club finish runners-up.
Barca boss Pep Guardiola is desperate for a new central defender as 33-year-old skipper Carles Puyol is struggling with a long-term left knee problem.
Guardiola has asked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta to follow up on a meeting between Barca president Sandro Rosell and Luiz's agent Giuliano Bertolucci in Brazil.
Luiz joined Chelsea at the same time as £50m flop Fernando Torres and has already formed a promising partnership with England skipper John Terry.
Neymar is set to snub Chelsea in favour of a move to Real Madrid - who will agree a fee with Santos in the next week.
New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has pinpointed the Brazilian starlet as a priority target but sources in Spain have revealed that Neymar is now set for La Liga.
It has been reported the 19-year-old is ready to pen a six-year deal worth around £26.75m with Madrid as soon as the two sides can agree a fee.
Santos have insisted they will not discuss the deal until after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores against Penarol tonight but will demand £40m from Madrid when they open talks.
But it is still not clear whether the La Liga side are prepared to pay so much for a relatively unproven teenager, leaving Chelsea with a glimmer of hope of still completing a deal.
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Comment by rampantlionposted Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 21:12
Neymar could have made a big impact on England, but Santos have priced him out of the market. It’s unlikely that Real Madrid will pay more than Chelsea, they don't have the same spending power. Which means that if Chelsea don't make Neymar another offer, he is likely to remain in Brazil. But where will that leave him? Will he get a better price next year? No way. Unfortunately for Neymar, his career could end where he is now. He could end up being just another Brazilian statistic.
Comment by Mac-Dposted Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 16:43
YESS !!! I'm so happy he is not coming to Chelsea our fans have gotten crazy over this Robinho slim jim clone. Wait and see not getting him will prove to be a blessing. Just bring in Falcao and maybe Moutiho get rid of Aneilka and we will be good. Hell Lukaku can come as well and replace Maluda or Kalou
Ashley Young joins Manchester United's £80m transfer masterplan
Manchester United have pushed their summer spending past the £30million mark with the capture of Ashley Young, and they’re not stopping there as Sir Alex Ferguson is gearing up to break the £80million barrier.
Ashley's off: Villa star Young set to sign for United (AFP/Getty Images)
Aston Villa winger Young underwent a medical with the Premier League champions on Wednesday, and completed his £15million switch to Old Trafford this afternoon.
But the Red Devils, who have also snapped up Phil Jones from Blackburn for £16million, are almost certain to smash their previous summer transfer record with at least two more big-name signings.
Goalkeeper David De Gea is understood to be arriving from Atletico Madrid in a £19million deal, and Ferguson still needs to plug the creative gap in his midfield vacated by Paul Scholes’ retirement.
Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder are two names who have been heavily linked with a switch to United, and both would comfortably set Fergie back in excess of £30million.
Ferguson's rumoured targets is also likely to see United eclipse the transfer spending of 'noisy neighbours' City, whose money-spinning summers have turned heads for the past two years.
The previous transfer spending record for one summer at Old Trafford was set in 2001, when United splashed out £50million on Ruud Van Nistlerooy (£19m), Juan Sebastian Veron (£28m), and Laurent Blanc (£2m).
Man City hold the overall Premier League record for total spending in a single transfer window - they paid out £125.5million for new recruits in the summer of 2009.
But despite being linked with big-name stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Roberto Mancini is yet to open his chequebook.
Gunner sign: Ricardo Alvarez seems to be bound for the Emirates (Getty Images)
The Gunners appear to have beaten off competition from the Rosanero, as well as Roma, for £12million-rated Alvarez, who has recently led his side to the Argentinian league title.
Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss, Zamparini revealed Palermo were originally the ones in the driving seat for the 23-year-old midfielder, until their dallying let Arsene Wenger’s side steal in.
‘We did have a concrete bid for Alvarez and had him in our grasp back in January,’ said the Rosanero chief.
‘Unfortunately, we didn’t complete the move in time, so we lost him to Arsenal.
‘At this moment he has already signed for the Gunners.’
The Argentine ace is represented by the same agent as Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore, who is being chased by Chelsea.
But Zamparini says the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas at Stamford Bridge may have scuppered the chance of the highly-rated 22-year-old moving to the Blues.
‘Pastore is absolutely a top player and there are three or four clubs tracking him,’ added Zaparini.
‘Chelsea are among them, but we have to see what their new coach Andre Villas-Boas has to say.’
Sir Alex Ferguson has made a £15million offer for Barcelona youngster Thiago Alcantara.
The Manchester United boss wants the star of Spain’s European Championship Under-21 side in an outright cash deal – but Barca are reluctant to sell to a Champions League rival.
United’s offer is bigger than any other interested club and Fergie made his move before Thiago’s stunning 45-yard free-kick strike in the Euro final at the weekend.
Barca would like to farm the midfield prodigy out to a Premier League club, but want a buy-back clause, which United will not agree to.
Thiago is unlikely to play often for Barca next season, a problem that is troubling coach Pep Guardiola who does not want to lose him long-term.
The 20-year-old would be ideal to replace Paul Scholes at United but Barca are desperate to see him go somewhere else.
Fergie cannot even get between the player and the club to win the day – his agent is Guardiola’s brother Pere.
Barca would put Thiago in the Cesc Fabregas deal with Arsenal if they can have a recall on him – a plan that’s not much use to the Gunners as the talks for their skipper drag on.
Bizarrely Bolton Wanderers, who have been on Thiago’s trail for over a year, may have a chance as they are prepared to take him on Barca’s terms.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas will make a double raid on Tottenham with a £60m bid for midfielder Luka Modric and the left-sided Gareth Bale. Full story: Caught Offside