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19th February 2011
10:24pm GMT
After the usual transfer window stalls and stalemates, Arsenal want to put to rest the rumours relating to not one but two want-away stars in one go with a Tevez-Nasri swap.
Arsenal are finally set to let Samir Nasri head north to the Etihad Stadium in return for getting Carlos Tevez to join them at the Emirates.
According to reports in The Sun a straight move to City for Nasri that looked to be completed on Friday was blocked by Arsenal who instead are going for the swap.
Nasri has turned down the offer of a new £90,000-a-week contract with Arsenal and a move to City would land him almost twice that.
On Friday, Arsene Wenger bemused the assembled crowd at a press conference when he insisted that nobody was leaving the squad over the forthcoming week, apparently oblivious to the fact that Cesc Fabregas and Nasri both have their bags packed and have already booked their taxis to the airport.
If the Tevez-Nasri swap happens there will be a big shortfall to be covered by the Gunners, with City valuing Tevez at £50 million and Arsenal valuing Nasri at £25 million, meaning that Fabregas's move to Barcelona would look even more certain.
Tevez has repeatedly voiced his desire to get closer to his family back in Argentina. By moving to Arsenal he'd be fulfilling that wish, technically at least.
Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini has renewed his criticism of the Manchester City board, describing himself as "worried" because of the club's inability to conclude their transfer business earlier in the summer.
