Gunners closing in on Nasri swoop

Arsenal are understood to be closing in on a triple French swoop for Samir Nasri, Clement Chantome and Francis Coquelin.

Nasri: France star
Nasri: France star

The biggest of the three deals is that for Nasri - who only recently signed a new long-term contract with Marseille.

But l'OM have agreed to let him leave as they hope to sign Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon to replace him.

Arsenal, who also have an interest in Ben Arfa, have agreed a deal for Nasri believed to be worth £11.9million.

Nasri is expected in the English capital on Wednesday for a medical before signing a four-year deal.

Ben Arfa's move looks closer after Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed he could leave and admitted he would rather he joined l'OM than a foreign club.

"I am not opposed to a Hatem's transfer to l'OM. My idea is very clear: with the same offers, I will prefer my player to join a French club than a foreign club.

"French Football has to get more and more competitive teams for both Le Championnat and European Cups."

Aulas then admitted that Arsenal are one of two Premier League clubs to make contact with him about Ben Arfa.

"But I have not been contacted by OM officials yet," he said.

"There is also interest from two English clubs, notably Arsenal."

Whilst Wenger is a fan of both Nasri and Ben Arfa - the l'OM man has always been his preference and it seems he is now close to capturing him.

Nasri's signing is likely to be followed by the arrivals of Clement Chantome and Francis Coquelin.

Chantome was one of the few Paris Saint Germain players to come out of last season with any plaudits after a string of impressive displays in central midfield.

The 22-year-old has been likened to Mathieu Flamini and Wenger is reported to have met with the French Under-21 international in the last week.

Coquelin - who is with third division Laval - has been on trial with Arsenal and although he picked up an injury during training, the 17-year-old seems to have done enough to earn a deal.

It is believed Coquelin is currently in London undergoing a medical ahead of a deal.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also handed a trial to Ghanaian starlet Tawrick Jibril.

The 16-year-old is currently with Hearts of Oak and has been linked with Atletico Madrid.

Jibril will link-up with Arsenal in July and will hope to make an impression on Wenger.

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Your Comments

eddiecons (Arsenal fan)

"Wenger lets beat Nasri's deal."

eddiecons (Arsenal fan)

"Wenger, great deal, let us have these boys to do for us the work, please break the bank to get Nasri. we need him at Emirates."

ERNEST (Arsenal fan)

"We are on the way to miss the guy nasri,please wenger pull up your sox as i say nasri is the good player so we have to work hard to make sure we take him to emerates"

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