Arsenal Transfer News: Samir Nasri Set to Follow Gael Clichy to City?

The summer hasn't been kind to Arsene Wenger's club at the Emirates. The Frenchman's potential moves for the Gunners have been overshadowed by the massive cloud of the potential departures of his top duo—Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Fabregas is wanted by his boyhood club and Europe's top squad, Barcelona, while Samir Nasri is wanted by a number of teams.

Manchester United and Manchester City are believed to be the front-runners for Nasri, the 24-year old Frenchman, and, according to Sky Italia who confirmed a Sportsmail's exclusive (via The Daily Mail):

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"Manchester City are on the verge of signing the midfielder, with the fee reported to be £23m ... Arsenal are prepared to offer Nasri £100,000 per week to stay and Wenger said: 'Samir is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him."

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But Nasri isn't expected to sign an extension with the Gunners as the final year of his deal is set to begin.

Wenger's club obviously doesn't want to lose a talented young winger entering the prime of his career, but City and United have been relentless in pursuit, the former having already paved the way with their signing of Gael Clichy from Arsenal.

Wenger has to pick his poison, and City seems like the more likely destination at this point. Arsenal doesn't want United—the top club in England—to get any better, so keeping Nasri away from them is at the top of Wenger's list of things to do.

City's big wallet continues to open for any major player on the market as they look to make a push to the top of Premier League table, and Nasri would be a huge get for them.

With Clichy already gone and the growing potential for Cesc Fabregas to move to Barcelona, it would be easier for Wenger to finally make a decision and begin his push at rebuilding a club that finished fourth in the league last campaign.