Arsenal Transfer News: Samir Nasri a Step Closer to Joining Manchester City?

City boss Roberto Mancini has made Samir Nasri one of his top transfer targets all summer and it appears he is on the verge of landing the 24-year-old in the coming days, according to thesun.co.uk. 

Nasri's future at Arsenal has been the subject of speculation for some time, with the Frenchman refusing to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was hoping to keep his countryman but, with the player having less than a year to run on his contract, he has reluctantly decided to cash in rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. 

The Arsenal midfielder will then have a medical before penning a five-year deal.

The transfer of the Frenchman will take Roberto Mancini's summer spending to £74 million.

He has splashed out £7 million on Gael Clichy, £6 million on Stefan Savic and a club-record £39 million on Sergio Aguero.

Nasri's transfer will give Mancini an awesome attack which will allow him to change his whole front four from one game to the next.

Nasri, 24, will be the final piece in Mancini's jigsaw as he assembles a squad to challenge for the title and to be competitive in the Champions League.

That was what Mancini told chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak he needed in order to build on their third place and FA Cup triumph.

Nasri did not feature in the opening Premier League game at Newcastle last weekend because of an illness, but was the subject of abuse from some sections of the travelling support, who questioned his loyalty and labelled him greedy.

The news is a major blow for Arsenal, having already seen Cesc Fabregas leave North London for Barcelona earlier this week.

If Nasri secures his switch to big-spending City, he will link up with former Arsenal teammate Gael Clichy at the Etihad Stadium.