Nasri Signs 4 Year Deal & Mata, Five

Samir Nasri has finally completed his move to Manchester City from Arsenal after a long running transfer battle, signing for Roberto Mancini's side on a four year deal, while Chelsea's new signing Juan Mata completed his move and signed a five year contract.

City apparently paid Arsenal a fee of £24 million - massive when you think he only had one year remaining on his Arsenal contract and could have left for free next summer. Nasri will don the number 19 shirt for City, and will go straight into the squad for the Premier League leaders' next game against Tottenham on Sunday.

Nasri is City's fourth major signing of this summer, and will follow his former Arsenal and French team mate, Gael Clichy who joined earlier this summer for around £7 million, as Nasri's signing brings City's summer spend up to around £77.6 million.

Meanwhile, Juan Mata, whom Arsenal had been close to signing as a replacement for Samir Nasri until negotiations broke down, has officially completed his move to Chelsea from Valencia, commanding an equally large sum of £26 million. He was rather sad leaving a club which he has grown up with and grown very fond of, playing 179 times and scoring 43 goals.

However, he says he has now joined a "bigger club" and is looking forward to paying very attacking football and winning plenty of trophies.

The 23 year-old's position at Chelsea on the field has been debated, and Mata allowed us an insight as to where he will play, saying:

"The plan is that I can play on either flank or even in the middle playing in between the lines of midfield and attack. I like to keep the ball and use it well, I am an attacking player and above all I like to set up goals and score them also."

Mata also revealed turning down both Arsenal and Tottenham, saying he chose Chelsea over their London rivals because they "did not compare with the Blues;"

"I want to come to England to win trophies - and that's why I accepted Chelsea's offer. It was also a question of sporting achievement, not money. Arsenal and Tottenham were both interested in me but they did not compare with the Blues."

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Chelsea Wrap Up Mata - Modric to Follow?

As Andre Villas-Boas prepares his Chelsea side for today's game against West Brom with the likes of Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka and Romelu Lukaku as his attacking options, he will be satisfied with the knowledge that goals will be scored. Worryingly for Chelsea's Premier League rivals the Spanish star, Juan Mata will soon be added to that impressive attacking list of players.

The 23 year-old Spanish winger's move to Arsenal fell through miserably, but Chelsea's new Portuguese manager is confident that he can get a deal tied up soon worth £23.4 million and £2.6 million in add-ons.

Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague announced on Twitter that he has met with Villas-Boas and that the Chelsea manager was positive about a deal, believing it could be wrapped up by Sunday. Balague claimed that the fee has been agreed as well as personal terms with the player.

It is certainly an exciting signing for Chelsea; a young, talented attacker, who has been chased by several top sides, and with bags of potential - it is a big step forward for an older Chelsea side, especially when you consider the recent signing of Lukaku.

Mata will be linking up with his fellow countryman Fernando Torres, with everyone involved with Chelsea hoping that the younger Spaniard will help the elder, former Liverpool star with his goalscoring form. Mata is a tricky, creative and clever winger, who will fit well in Chelsea's 4-3-3 system with two wingers, and with the vision on the ball he holds, goals may be flying at Stamford Bridge.

Even more so if Luka Modric finally agrees to leave Tottenham. Spurs have been consistently persistent with the fact that they will not sell their prized asset, but there is revived talk that a move is on the cards. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also added fuel to the fire, by saying he has "a feeling" that Tottenham will sell the Croatian midfielder if the right bid were to come in.

We all know Modric's qualities in the midfield. He's one of the best at what he does in the Premier League and has been chased by Manchester United too, but he has set his heart on a move to Chelsea, and the London club are more than happy to take him in.

Modric's quick thinking and creativity as well as his amazing ability to control a game would make Chelsea the team to beat in the Premier League if all goes well for them. Manchester United have been reluctant to buy in midfield, and Arsenal have lost Fabregas and are about to lose Nasri - two of their most influential players.

If Chelsea can get hold of Mata and Modric, they will have a fantastically talented, creative midfield, and add the old with the new at the club, it may turn out to be a formidable combination.

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No Mata or Jadson, as Nasri and Fabregas Near Exit

Arsene Wenger has ruled out signing Valencia's Juan Mata, and claimed that any deal for Shakthar Donetsk's attacking midfielder Jadson is "nowhere" near being completed as both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas move closer to being sold by Arsenal.

All four bites of news will be unwelcome to Arsenal, as they search for at least two midfielder's to replace the now very likely departing pair of Nasri and Fabregas to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively.

Arsene Wenger was clearly not very enthused by the news that a deal for Mata, who was said to be very close only a few weeks ago had suddenly broken down beyond repair. The Arsenal manager didn't give a reason for the deal now being dead, but only confirmed it:

"We will not do (a deal for) Juan Mata. I don't have to give a reason." 

In the past week, Arsenal were said to have agreed a deal with Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk over the Brazilian 27 year-old Jadson, with the Independent reporting as if the player was already an Arsenal signing. However, Wenger has dismissed this, leaving Arsenal fans feeling even more pessimistic as the new season approaches. Wenger said:

"We are nowhere near on Jadson. We are not talking to Shakhtar about him."

On Fabregas, Barcelona's manager Pep Guardiola seemed confident that the deal is close to completion, saying that the chances of signing the Spanish midfielder are "good":

"The prospects are good, but he’s still an Arsenal player. Otherwise I would confirm it."

Nasri's move to Manchester City looks a certainty, with talks at a very advances stage, and some reports stating that he has already agreed a deal with Arsenal's future title rivals.

Wenger also gave the usual spiel about why it's so hard to find a defender who fits his requirements. One can't help but think it's simply an excuse not to spend, and to avoid the overriding issue with Arsenal:

"We have specialised people who work everywhere. Every club looks for centre-backs in the whole world."

"People with unlimited resources look for a centre-back. We are not in a supermarket where you go to a shelf and you ask 'where are the centre-backs or the strikers?"

"We are today in an international market where all over the world people look for the same players. Massive clubs have scouts all over the world and if they don't find anyone, in the end they come to us. You don't need to be a genius to understand that."

"We will have a new centre-back by the end of the transfer window because Thomas Vermaelen only played five games last year. To buy just for the sake of buying - you won't find me there. If I'm convinced the player has the quality, I will always do it if he's better than the players we have."

However, Arsenal can take some good news from all of these downbeat stories of failed bids and outgoing stars. Apparently, the Arsenal board will give Arsene Wenger all, or most of the money made from the sales of Nasri and Fabregas, so the manager can bring in some top quality replacements.

Will Wenger invest? If he doesn't, you can't help but think that Arsenal could be in trouble this season, as clubs around them spend millions to keep themselves in those all important top four positions.

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The Fabregas and Nasri Situation

Written by a DBS Football guess writer - Follow Him on Twitter @Kevin_Mega

So once again the summers longest transfer saga continues with Cesc Fabregas supposedly edging closer to a move to Barcelona even though they can’t match the valuation of our skipper. Arsenal are holding out for more than £40 million, which they rightly should do considering the market prices of other players.  In a world where players like Modric are valued at over £35 million it’s fair for Arsenal to demand £40million+ for Cesc.

It’s no secret that Barcelona have massive debts which is why they can’t raise funds to buy him. They’ve recently purchased Alexis Sanchez so it would be difficult to see where else they could get money to buy Fabregas. One thing that annoys me is; why do they want Fabregas? They already have Xavi and Iniesta, so why would they need Fabregas, especially as he will be on the bench for the most of his time there.  I don’t see Guardiola dropping either Xavi or Iniesta to accommodate Fabregas. It has been suggested that Fabregas, Xavi, and Iniesta could play in a three man midfield against weaker opponents because there would be no need for a defensive minded midfielder, however this option wouldn't suit Fabregas as he would like to play in the big games like ‘el classico’ and Champions League Finals.

It’s true that Fabregas would prefer to move to Barcelona but he’s equally happy to stay at Arsenal if the move to Barcelona doesn’t fall through. I don’t think it will be in the best interest for Fabregas to move to Nou Camp as he won’t be a first team starter and it would be just like the time he spends with Spain during international periods where he’s always behind Iniesta and Xavi to occupy the two attacking midfield spots. If Cesc was to move to Barcelona the best time would be when Xavi is close to retiring which is a few years away.

With Barcelona unable to match our valuation for Cesc it would seem better for all, for Fabregas to have another season as Arsenal's captain.

Now to another transfer saga which was picking up pace during the start of the transfer window; the Nasri contract situation. Nasri doesn’t want to sign a contract extension at Arsenal with some reports suggesting it’s because he wants more money whilst others say it’s because Arsenal took too long to start negotiations with him.  I wouldn’t mind if he was sold as long as we find a suitable replacement. 

The Spanish and English media have run stories today that we are close to signing Juan Mata. I don’t trust these sources but if Juan Mata was to arrive at Arsenal I would hope he is a replacement for Nasri and not Fabregas. This is because we need Fabregas more than we need Nasri. No-one at arsenal can occupy the centre attacking midfield role as well as Fabregas can. Several players have tried playing in that role when Fabregas is injured but they weren’t able to excel. Nasri prefers to play in that role but in the few times he’s played there he hasn’t really shone and he’s more effective as a winger.

Arsene Wenger has already said that he will not sell Nasri as it would undermine the clubs claim to be an ambitious club. I somehow agree with this because for Arsenal to remain a big club we need to keep our best players. Is it however worth the risk of losing him on a free where we could get £20m for him and get a suitable replacement? My view is that Wenger wants to keep him at Arsenal for another season where he could continue his attempts to convince him to sign a contract extension. If we win a trophy I think Nasri will stay. But if once again we fail in claiming a trophy, I don’t see how we can convince him to stay.

So with the new season only a few weeks away, I think Arsenal will begin the new season with Fabregas and Nasri in the starting line up against Newcastle. And when the summer transfer window shuts on September 1^st, we will still have them in our squad to help us mount a serious challenge for the title.

Written by a DBS Football guess writer - Follow Him on Twitter @Kevin_Mega

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Mata & Jagielka to Be Arsenal Players Very Soon

Arsenal have upped their offer for Phil Jagielka to around £15 million, while the Juan Mata deal, worth around £17.5 million - which is the 23 year-old Spaniard's buy-out clause - is nearing completion.

Earlier in the week, I reported that Arsenal had considered and had prepared another bid for Phil Jagielka, Everton's 28 year-old defender, after having a £12 million bid turned down last summer, and another £10  million offer rejected this summer.

Jagielka is Arsene Wenger's known favourite target out of the three Premier League defenders who have been linked, the others including Bolton's Gary Cahill and Blackburn's Chris Samba. While the latter two players are marginally younger than Jagielka, Wenger is going for experience and leadership in the back line - something Arsenal fans have been pleading for in recent times.

While the prediction of The Star, as reported here two days ago, that Valencia's Juan Mata "will sign for Arsenal in the next 24 hours" has proved to be incorrect, it is increasingly likely that the player will transfer in the coming days.

Valencia are ready, although reluctantly to sell their young star for a fee of £17.5 million and it is being reported that Arsenal have offered an amount that Valencia can accept. Valencia are not entirey enthusiastic about the move, but the technical secretary Bralui Vázquez has refused to rule out the possibility by saying:

"We have a back-up plan in case Juan leaves. That's not just the case for Juan, though. We have a plan like that for every player. We have to be prepared if something happens."

Mata's arrival may help Cesc Fabregas' case of moving to Barcelona this summer, but thanks to the news that Samir Nasri will be staying for at least one more season, Arsenal will have a strong side next season. Mata can play both on the left or in the middle, as is the same with Samir Nasri, so expect to see the two swapping positions from time to time if the deal were to materialise.

It is exciting timed for Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger attempts to silence his critics with some big money signings. He has already spent over £10 million on the Ivory Coast striker Gervinho, and with the news that he is closing in on the £15 million and £17.5 million signings of Jagielka and Mata respectively, things are all of a sudden looking up for Arsenal.

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Nasri To Stay - Mata Deal Close

There finally seems to be some good news at Arsenal, or better news than what has been wheeled out in the last few weeks. Instead of more on Cesc Fabregas' endless transfer saga to Barcelona, we turn to Nasri, who has had his own saga this year, but has now has apparently told Arsenal that he will stay for at least one more year.

While this does mean that he will be a likely departure next summer, it also means Arsenal will be able to squeeze another year out of him, and considering his good form at the start of last season, this is a good thing for Arsenal, who are doing their best to keep hold of their best players.

It is understood that Nasri has turned down Arsenal's new contract offer of £115,000 per week and will run down his contract with a year remaining, due to strong interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United. According to reports, City are willing to pay Nasri £160,000 a week, and had offered Arsenal £20 million for his services - a bid that was rejected.

Meanwhile, the Star makes a very bold and extremely confident claim that "Juan Mata will sign for Arsenal in the next 24 hours." It is a sentence which will delight many Arsenal fans, who have seen the promising young Spaniard play for the Spain Under-21's and his club Valencia after putting in some superb performances.

Arsenal have been tracking Mata all summer, mainly because many thought that he would come in as a replacement for Nasri. However, due to strong interest from several other top clubs across Europe in Mata, Arsenal have had to move fast to dissuade him from joining anyone else.

The 23 year-old midfielder has a £17.5 million buy-out clause in his Valencia contract, but it is believed that he is available for £13.2 million considering his relative inexperience, and it is a fee Arsenal have met. Arsenal's local rivals, Tottenham were said to have attempted to hijack the deal, but Arsenal remain strong favourites.

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Sell Nasri & Fabregas And Show Some Ambition

Arsene Wenger's stance is respectable as well as understandable; keep his two best players at the club, and hope that this season they can bring him some long awaited and much needed success. The problem is, it just doesn't look realistic.

You've got Cesc Fabregas, and by now, we all know where he wants to be. We are told by everyone apart from the man himself who remains hesitant to admit in public his desire to move back home to Barcelona. We are told repeatedly of meetings he has with Wenger, reporting that he has told Wenger where he wants to be, while Barcelona players continue to shamelessly tell us about the Arsenal captains dreams as if they roam his sleeping mind.

Then there's Nasri, who clearly isn't too eager to sign a new contract with the club, and is far more interested in immediate success, or the promise of that success with either Manchester United or City - perhaps whoever pays the most.

You can imagine it now: Nasri and Fabregas, stony faced and bringing the dressing room down next season after a loss. Two players who don't want to be there - one of which who is the captain of the side - it doesn't bode well in a recipe for success. The captain should really be the personification of commitment and determination, and while Fabregas may put on a good show of that, the players know where his true motives lie.

If Wenger wants to show competing clubs Arsenal's ambition, he has little option but to sell. Sell, and then re invest very soon. It may not be something the Arsenal manager is used to, but it is something he needs to try; investing heavily in a side in dire need of refreshment.

£35 million from the sale of Fabregas, and £25 million from the sale of Nasri (if they're lucky) and Arsenal have £60 million to play with. Now I don't claim to be an expert in Arsenal's needs, mainly because I'm not, but there are a few players who have been mentioned that I could certainly see improving the side.

Arsenal need a defender or two to sure up that back line - mainly a left back and central defender, considering the departure of Clichy and shakiness of Squillaci, Koscielny and injuries. Chris Samba's names has cropped up, as has the far more expensive Gary Cahill's, but what Arsenal need is a reliable, Premier League proven defender, with good, leadership qualities.

Obviously, finding a replacement for Fabregas and Nasri is far harder. They are two qualities very rare in football, and as Arsenal know by the price they are commanding for the pair, value is also hard to come by. But money talks, and with around £40 million left over, it opens a lot of doors for Mr Wenger. This is a man who knows his football, and has surely had his eyes on a couple of players with the thought of Fabregas leaving - after all, it isn't a sudden decision.

Juan Mata would command a £20 million fee, and with Valencia's own money problems would be willing to sell. £20 million left over. Who would you bring in? Of course, this would all depend if the Arsenal board would be willing to inject the money made from the hypothetical Nasri and Fabregas sales back into the team for Wenger to do what he pleases.

But it boils down to this: do Arsenal want the money now, when their players are worth around £60 million together, and there clubs are willing to pay that amount, or do they want to squeeze one more season out of two unhappy players with their mind elsewhere. Looks like Wenger's already made up his mind.

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£20m Will Buy Juan Mata For Arsenal or United

While Valencia's club President Manuel Llorente has insisted that his young left midfield star, Juan Mata is not for sale, reports continue to link him away from Spain and interestingly, with the two English sides Arsenal and Manchester United. The Mail now reports that both clubs have registered a real interest in Mata, and that if Valencia were to received a £20 million bid for the 23 year-old, it would be enough to persuade Valencia to let him go.

A move for Mata from either Manchester United or Arsenal will depend on what happens with the current transfer sagas surrounding the two clubs. That is, if Manchester United do end up signing Wesley Sneijder in the ongoing, rather confusing negotiations which according to some, are taking place, and according to others are not. 

Indeed in Arsenal's case, a move for Mata much depends on whether or not they can keep hold Samir Nasri and/or Cesc Fabregas this summer. Nasri looks set to stay at Arsenal and run down his contract to go for free next summer, but Barcelona are continuing to circle over Cesc Fabregas and look as likely as ever to snap him up for a lucrative transfer fee.

Theo Walcott's recent admission that he would like to be given the chance to play centrally as a goal scoring striker, it could leave room on the wing for another player to step in. Mata could easily be that player - a winger with bags of pace and the superb ability to beat a man, combined with great technical ability, providing that creative spark needed. 

Mata has made 172 appearances for Valencia, scoring 46 goals, and has a contract with the Spanish side until 2015. However, Valencia's money struggles have been well documented, resulting in the past in the sale of David Villa and David Silva to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, so £20 million will do well to add further stability to the clubs finances. 

If Manchester United do decide to go in for the player, they have a special advantage over other clubs in the fact that Ryan Giggs is still at the club. The United legend is an idol of Mata's, and the chance to be mentored by his idol would certainly be a huge attraction. 

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Arsenal Bid £18m for Juan Mata

Arsenal have placed an £18 million bid for the Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, which would smash Arsenal's transfer record, as Wenger follows through with his claim for an active transfer window. The Daily Mail claim an exclusive, in which they state that the player is happy to discuss his future away from current club Valencia.

Ridden with debt, Valencia have been unloading some of their top players for the last few seasons, with David Villa sold to Barcelona and David Silva to Manchester City, both for big fees. Now it seems, Juan Mata will provide the club with much need money to help to pay off the debts, as £18 million seems a substantial offer for the 23 year-old midfielder.

Mata played a key part in the Spanish Under-21 European Championship win in the past few weeks, and there was huge interest in him from scouts from all over the world, but Arsenal have moved ahead of them all with an apparent solid bid.

Liverpool are very keen on the youngster, but the lure of Chapions League football will probably sway Mata towards an Arsenal move, even though Liverpool would have no problems in matching Valencia's apparent £21 million asking price.

Arsene Wenger is prepared it seems to pay well over the current Arsenal transfer record of Andrey Arshavin, who cost the club £13 million. It is a big move for Wenger who has come under increasing pressure to change his transfer policy and spend some real money on quality players, and with Mata's versatility of being able to play both in the middle and on the wing as well as a good assist rate, this would be a very impressive signing of attacking intent from the Arsenal manager.

In 33 La Liga games last season, Mata scored eight and assisted 12. The Spanish style of play which Mata has learned whilst in the Spanish international squad, and which comes naturally to many Spaniards would fit well with Wenger's Arsenal style, so Wenger will be hoping Arsenal are the players first choice, especially as the manager looks to avoid any big bidding wars for the player.
Mata's agent - his father said before the European Championships finished:

"Until after the Euro, we won't listen to anybody. After that, we're willing to listen to all offers we receive."

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Juan Mata Transfer Update

Football is today fuelled by money, with clubs spending hundreds of millions of pounds every year to fund facilities and players to make their club better and a force to be reckoned with in the footballing world. However, with big money comes big debt, and most clubs are burdened with some sort of debt - Valencia F.C. are one of those clubs, but their situation is quite severe.

Valencia's debt is reported to be around €500 million, and they have already been forced to sell two of their biggest stars in David Villa and David Silva to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively to go some way to clear that debt that been a weary load on their backs for a while. Now clubs are circling like vultures, watching another of Valencia's stars, Juan Mata, who has a buy out clause of €60 million in the hope of a possible transfer deal being struck.


The clubs that have certainly contacted Valencia over a move for Mata are Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. That inside knowledge is thanks to the Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who stated on his website:

"Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have contacted Mata`s representative (his father) and the trio have all expressed varying degrees of interest in the player`s situation. Mata`s new contract contains a buy out clause of €60 million, but that will always be negotiable if both the player and the club are willing to listen to offers."

Mata's agent and father confirmed the interest from Premier League clubs:

"I still get calls from many agents in England but we are calm. If we get an offer in writing then we will take it to Valencia and let them decide." 

Liverpool it seems have been the most active in the pursuit of the 23 year-old, as reports have emerged that the players representative has recently been to Liverpool to hold a meeting with the Liverpool Director of Football who has offered £17 million for the player.

Manchester City however have the power in their hands, as they have the money in their hands too - a bottomless pit of it, and one that Valencia so desperately need. City have the spending power to outbid Liverpool at any price, and despite Liverpool's new owners and need for a quality winger such as Mata, could only possibly go to a certain amount, and no more.

Other reports state that Manchester City have offered £25 million for Mata, whilst Chelsea and Manchester United less involved in a move. Sir Alex Ferguson has however stated his desire to bring three new players into the Manchester United squad: "I am looking at maybe three signings which would boost our overall quality in our team." Whether or not Mata is one of those hopeful signing we will have to wait and see when the transfer window opens. 


If United did really want to bring Mata to Old Trafford, they could perhaps use Ryan Giggs as a make-weight - Mata is a very big fan of the United legend and would no doubt pounce at the chance of working and even playing with him in the United side. Mata once said: "I've liked him a lot since I was little. I think he's one of the best wingers I have ever seen."


Mata is a very good winger himself, justifying the wide interest in his signature with eight goals and 12 assists in this seasons La Liga. It is really down to Valencia though - do they let go of one of their best players, and for how much will they - if they are willing - command as a fee for his services?

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