Chelsea are hoping to pull off a remarkable transfer coup with a late bid for Arsenal’s Samir Nasri.
The Blues are desperate to add a creative spark to their midfield before the close of the transfer window. They have had their sights set on Tottenham’s Luka Modric as the answer to their prayers but have seen bids of £22m and £27m rejected. Borussia Dortmund’s teenage sensation Mario Gotze has been another name mentioned in dispatches but he is keen to continue his development in the Bundesliga.
Those cul-de-sacs have led to the interest in Nasri who had appeared to be on the verge of a £25m move to Manchester City. However, the Abu Dhabi-owned club have been distracted by the possibility of signing Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan who is available at the right price and willing to go to a club that can satisfy his wage demands of over £200,000 per week – a figure that City are prepared to match but whcih previous suitors Manchester United are not.
The situation has left Nasri in limbo especially after he received abuse – in absentia – from the travelling Arsenal supporters during their game with Newcastle on the opening day of the season. The 24-year-old has not taken kindly to the chants replying via his Twitter account: “I heard what the fans were singing about me on saturday and it is really disrespectful because i’m still a arsenal player.”
His manager Arsene Wenger has spoken positively about keeping hold of the player but these latest events could have finally persuaded Nasri to leave and Chelsea are now believed to be seriously considering a bid. Arsenal would be highly reluctant to let one of their stars move to their crosstown rivals but could find their hand forced by £25m in cash and a disaffected player.
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