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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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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£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 after £15 million Colombian - Video

Arsenal are reportedly chasing FC Porto's 25 year-old striker, Ramadel Falcao. Wenger is frustrated with both van Persie's injuries and Marouane Chamakh's inconsistent performances, and while Arsenal's Danish attacker Nicklas Bendtner showers in his own praise, Wenger has found a new striker to get him the important goals and goal threat next season.

Falcao is just what Arsenal need up front - a goalscoring striker - and has netted 23 goals in 28 games in the Portuguese League this season, while last year he managed an amazing 34 goals in 43 games. This goal flare has turned the head of some top European clubs incuding Valencia, AC Milan, and Arsenal's local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, but Wenger will be hopin a £15 million will be enough to bring him to the Emirates.

FC Porto currently lead the Portuguese Liga, above fierce rivals Benfica, and it is ther Colombian strikers' valuable goals that have helped them to such a fortunate position. They will be reluctant to let thier superstar go, but with a big bid and the players mind on a possible transfer, it would be best for Jose Mournho's former club to let their player go.

Below you can see what he is capable of.

Manchester United sign Anderson on New Deal

Manchester United midfielder Anderson has signed a new contract which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2015.

The Brazilian had been quite a disappointment since his £17 million move to United in 2007 from FC Porto, as he struggled to find form or fitness - which cost him a regular first team place. However, after playing a couple of games in the first team, filling in for Paul Scholes and proving his qualities with some fine performances and a rare goal to his name, not to mention his obvious potential he has earned himself the new deal.

The 22 year-old, who had been linked to moves away from United said he is delighted with the contract renewal, as he told the clubs official website:

"This is the best club to be at and I would like to thank everyone for the great support I have received over the years"

"I am looking forward to winning many more trophies with this club and I am so pleased to have signed a new contract."

His manager was equally as happy, saying that Anderson "has fantastic potential" and is "going to be a really top player" for the club.

The player scored his first goal at Old Trafford against Valencia last week - doubling his overall goal tally for United, and the signs of improvement are clear to see. He is much more comfortable with his position -playing further forward seems to be a strong point, but his physicality and passion are still as strong as when he first joined as a teenager.

Things seem to be going United's way at the moment - top of the League with a game in hand after toppling title challengers Arsenal and they stand in the proud position of being the only unbeaten side in England. A shaky Chelsea team in next up for the Red Devils, and Anderson will be hoping to earn his money and play a big part in pushing the Blues of the edge in what looks like will be a thrilling game.

Watch Goals: Manchester United 1 - 1 Valencia

(Watch Goals Below)

It was a quiet night at Old Trafford, in which the United team didn't hit their top gear, but bombarded the Valencia goalkeeper with shot after shot - with only one hitting the back of the net. It was a game of sloppy individual errors, wasted chances, and doing just enough to please everyone.

United conceded first, which dashed their chances of setting a new clean sheet record in the group stages of the Champions League. Michael Carrick gave the ball away inside his own half, to which the Valencia attackers pounced on the rare chance to score. Dominguez ran with the ball, and slid it to Pablo Hernandez on the right, with the 25 year-old midfielder subsequently hitting the ball through Ben Amos' legs in the United goal.

United deserved to have at least one goal if you were looking at the amount of chances that they had - Anderson and Berbatov had excellent chances, running through the defence, but not testing the goalkeeper well enough. Rooney tried a fantastic shot from the corner of the box which dipped onto the crossbar as the helpless keeper could only watch. Rooney wasn't yet back to his best of course, but showed his fantastic ability with glimpses of brilliance.

Anderson was probably the man of the match. He hasn't convinced all of the United fans since his £17 million move with Nani to United, but if he keeps playing like this; bursting into the box, dominating the midfield, winning the ball, creating chances - he will win over the doubters soon enough. He scored the equaliser too, as he broke into the box to pounce on a rebound from Ji Sung Park's vicious shot, and the ball finally rippled the net with his finish. His celebration of dancing with himself was briefly interrupted with Rooney running in and slapping him over the head in joy, but it didn't stop the Brazilian boy.

From then on it was all about not conceding. United didn't push themselves to grab a winner while Valencia looked the more likely in the closing minutes. It was a good warm up game; not too hard, not much to play for - all in build up to the big match on Monday in which United will lock horns with title rivals Arsenal.

Watch the Goals Here