Gunners want to open talks to sign City defender.Arsenal have been linked with a surprise move for young Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic, the Daily Mail reports.
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The Gunners are targeting the Serbian international as an ideal replacement for Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, who has been linked with both Manchester United and Barcelona after becoming unsettled at the Emirates Stadium.
Nastasic looks a good prospect, despite a difficult second season with City, and he may be available as well as the Premier League champions close in on the signing of Porto star Eliaquim Mangala in that position.
Manuel Pellegrini is clearly unconvinced by Nastasic as the first choice partner for Vincent Kompany at the back, and could look to rotate between Mangala and Argentine veteran Martin Demichelis next season, pushing Nastasic out of the Etihad Stadium exit door.
Arsene Wenger would ideally like a player to rotate with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, and Nastasic could also prove a good long-term solution in that position due to his relative youth in comparison to Arsenal’s current first-choice centre-back pairing
Nastasic is thought to be valued at around £16m by City.
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