Blues join mad chase for Nasri

London: Arsene Wenger is losing the race against time to secure the transfer reinforcements that could prove key to convincing Samir Nasri to shun interest from Arsenal's Premier League rivals.

Chelsea have now joined Manchester United and Manchester City in the chase for the France international. Nasri is due to discuss his future with Wenger after the Arsenal players return to training ahead of their pre-season tour of the Far East.

Talks over a new, five-year deal worth £90,000 (Dh530,304) a week halted abruptly last month. As well as negotiations over his salary — Nasri is believed to want as much as £110,000 a week — the former Marseille player wants reassurances that Wenger intends to strengthen Arsenal's squad in an attempt to end the club's six-year wait for a trophy.

Laborious progress

Yet, his manager's progress in the transfer market thus far has been laborious. If reports from Spain that Cesc Fabregas' £38 million move to Barcelona may be finalised as soon as tomorrow do not impress Nasri, then Wenger's admission that it may take more than three weeks before he can begin to bolster his playing resources will worry him further.

"I am very active on the phone," the Arsenal manager told a French radio station this week. "Everyone is in a standby position, where everyone is waiting for the first step, expecting a super-transfer. It will move in late July and early August. Then we will analyse the gaps in each team."

That may be too late for Wenger to keep hold of Nasri, with United, in particular, determined to sign the 24 year old before both clubs leave on tour in 10 days.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, could lodge his opening offer, of around £15 million, shortly. City will only consider Nasri once they have lost out on signing Alexis Sanchez from Udinese, while Chelsea are monitoring the situation.

Their new manager, Andre Villas-Boas, would prefer to sign Portuguese international Joao Moutinho from Porto, while he is also tracking Marseille's Lucho Gonzalez.

Assuage fears

Wenger's hopes of parading new signings to assuage Nasri's fears by the time any suitors make their first bid, though, are diminishing.

Bolton have rejected the possibility of using Nicklas Bendtner as a makeweight in a deal to take Gary Cahill to the Emirates, and Wenger must now hope the offer of either Henri Lansbury or Ignasi Miquel could persuade Owen Coyle to accept a bid.

Everton, home of two potential recruits, have yet to receive an offer for either Phil Jagielka or Leighton Baines, and will likely fight strenuously to retain both.

Arsenal are yet to lodge a bid for the Blackburn captain Chris Samba. In attack, too, Wenger's progress has been limited.

— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2011