TRANSFER NEWS:SAMIR NASRI is unlikely to be cleared to make his debut for Manchester City at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, as the fine details on his €25 million transfer from Arsenal have not yet been ironed out.
The two clubs have reached the basis of an agreement, under which Nasri will follow Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gael Clichy from Arsenal to City, and the midfielder has long been satisfied with the financial terms.
He ignored Arsenal’s proposal of a new contract worth €103,000 a week, to replace one that expires next summer, and he stands to double the figure at City. But there are final complications to be resolved, which include the payment of fees to the agents involved.
Arsenal’s contract offer would have made Nasri one of the highest-paid players in the club’s history and there has been exasperation in north London at his refusal to sign, particularly as it was believed he was ready to do so in February. The case also illustrates City’s ability to dwarf rival clubs in the financial stakes.
Arsene Wenger has discounted Nasri from his plans for the Premier League visit of Liverpool tomorrow lunchtime, even though the Arsenal manager has been confronted by a selection crisis in midfield. He will be without the suspended Alex Song and Gervinho, together with the injured Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby, while Tomas Rosicky, who played with a groin problem against Udinese in the Champions League on Tuesday night, is a doubt.
In defence, Kieran Gibbs could yet feature despite limping off with hamstring trouble against Udinese and Armand Traore is also not as badly injured as feared.
For Nasri to play for City at Bolton, the paperwork on the transfer would need to be completed and him registered with the Premier League by midday today. It is more likely that his debut will come in City’s following fixture, which would carry added spice for him. City play at Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday.
Wenger, meanwhile, has criticised Uefa for a lack of clarity over their rules regarding whether it is permissible for a suspended manager to communicate from the stands with his bench. He served a touchline ban against Udinese and he relayed his orders via his assistant Boro Primorac, who was seated alongside him. But at half-time, he was ordered to stop.
Guardian Service
