Manchester City Agree Fee For Arsenal Star

Manchester City have agreed terms with Arsenal for midfielder Samir Nasri and he will now undergo a medical.

Nasri but has been omitted from Arsenal's squad for the Champions League qualifier against Udinese on Wednesday and will travel to Manchester to finalize a deal worth a reported £25m to the Gunners.

The Frenchman, who has been heavily linked with City all summer, is in the final season of his contract at Emirates Stadium and could have left for nothing next summer.

Reports over the weekend had suggested the deal had fallen through and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger subsequently claimed Nasri was happy in North London.

He featured in Arsenal's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday and trained with the squad on Tuesday ahead of the match with Udinese.

However, with the Gunners due to fly out to Italy on Tuesday afternoon, the club have now confirmed that Nasri is on the verge of signing for City.

A club statement read: "Arsenal can confirm that they have agreed terms for Samir Nasri to move to Manchester City.

"The 24-year-old midfielder, who has spent three years with the Gunners, has been omitted from Arsenal's squad which flies to Udinese this afternoon and instead will travel north for a medical.

"The move will be subject to Nasri passing a medical and formal registration processes."

Had Nasri travelled with Arsenal and featured against Udinese, it would have rendered him ineligible to play for City in the group phase of the Champions League.

Speaking after Sunday's 3-2 win at Bolton, Mancini suggested that such a scenario could have led to City ending their interest in the player.

Chelsea Target £28m Double Defender Deal

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is planning to bolster his defence by signing Porto's Rolando and Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel before the transfer window shuts.

Villas-Boas has earmarked his side's backline as an area that needs strengthening and he is prepared to shell out a combined £28m to clinch the double deal.

The Portuguese tactician had been hoping that central defender Serbian international Slobodan Rajkovic, who was signed back in 2007, would finally secure a work permit having spent the last three seasons on loan in the Dutch Eredivisie.

However, they are now poised to cut their losses after a setback in the 22-year-old's application and Hamburg will now pay a £2million fee to take him off Chelsea’s hands.

Villas-Boas will now venture into transfer market by raiding former club Porto for highly-rated Portugal centre-back Rolando.

The 25-year-old stopper was an integral member of the side that won the League title and Europa League under Villas-Boas last season.

Rolando's contract at Estadio do Dragao runs until 2015 and Chelsea will need to fork out £18m to secure his signature.

Chelsea will also move for Ajax youngster Van der Wiel, who is viewed by the Blues boss as a youthful replacement for the likes of Paulo Ferreira and Jose Bosingwa at right-back.

Van der Wiel, who featured in the 2010 World Cup final, has two years remaining on his club contract and has also attracted the interest of Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Villas-Boas is looking to steal a march on his rivals by hastily securing a £10m deal for a player who is widely-regarded as the best young full-back in Europe.

The former Porto chief is looking to overhaul Chelsea's ageing squad over a period of two seasons and has already signed 19-year-old midfielder Oriol Romeu from Barcelona and 18-year striker Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht this summer.

United Make Firm Offer For ‘Next Messi’ Target

Manchester United have contacted Borussia Dortmund with a firm offer for midfield target Mario Gotze, according to German news source Bild.

Dortmund have long insisted that Gotze iss not for sale, no matter how big the fee offered, with CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke telling reporters: "All interested people are uninteresting to us. He remains at Borussia."

But Manchester United continues to be linked to the 19-year-old, who was touted by Franz Beckenbauer as the next Lionel Messi.

United were said to be making a swoop for Wesley Sneijder, but Sir Alex Ferguson sees Gotze as a cheaper option for a midfield signing, with the Germany international demanding far lower wages than Sneijder.

And with only one week left in the transfer window, United are reportedly making an offer in the hopes of completing their squad as soon as possible.

Gotze has made 39 appearances for Borussia Dortmund since coming through the German outfit’s youth program, and has scored seven goals. The star has drawn the attention of Real Madrid as well as Manchester United.

Liverpool Close In On £8m Capture Of Blues Centre-Back

Liverpool are now favourites to sign Birmingham centre-back Scott Dann.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish allowed experience defender Soto Kyrgiakos to leave for Wolfsburg yesterday, sparking speculation that a deal for Dann was close.

Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with a move for the Liverpool-born player, but he has his heart set on a switch to Anfield.

Dann was a boyhood Reds fan and he appears he is in line for an £8m dream move back to his native Merseyside.

Dalglish is keen to bolster his backline before the transfer window shuts next Wednesday and is has already held successful preliminary talks with Birmingham regarding the 24-year-old.

The Scotsman hopes to tie up deal in time to hand Dann his debut against Bolton at Anfield on Saturday.

The former Coventry man would become Liverpool's sixth summer signing as part of a £120m recruitment drive this year.

Chelsea In For Pereira

Sky Sports sources understand that Chelsea have made a bid for Porto midfielder Alvaro Pereira.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas worked with the 25-year-old Uruguay international before he joined the Premier League side this summer.

But it is now believed that Pereira could be following his former coach to Stamford Bridge, with the London club looking to replace Yuri Zhirkov who has joined Russian outfit FC Anzhi Makhachkala.

Pereira would fill that void after gaining a reputation as a highly rated wing-back.

Chelsea are the highest spenders of all 20 Premier League clubs this summer, with Juan Mata the latest signing, joining from Valencia for £26m.

Pereira began his career in Uruguay with Miremar Misiones and spent time at Quilmes and Argentinos Juniors before moving to Europe to play for Romanian side CFR Cluj.

He made the move to Porto in 2009 and played a significant part in their treble winning side under Villas-Boas last year.

It is understood that Pereira has a £25m release clause.

Liverpool To Pip Man City In Chase For £12m Uruguay Defender

Liverpool is hopeful of beating Manchester City to the signing of highly-rated Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates, who will cost around £12million.

The 20-year-old centre-half was named best young player at this summer's Copa America where his performances for the tournament winners Uruguay has only increased interest from several Premier League clubs.

Scouts from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all watched the 6ft 6in Coates in action during the championships in Argentina and have also monitored his club performances for Nacional.

But Liverpool are optimistic that their Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez can persuade his compatriot Coates to link up with him at Anfield.

The Premier League certainly seems the most likely destination for the towering stopper and could cost Reds owners Fenway Sports Group, who have already sanctioned a £110m recruitment drive this year, a fee of around £12m.

Coates was linked with a £3.5m transfer to Porto in June following the collapse of a proposed move to the Brazilian side Sao Paulo but his rise to prominence at the Copa America has since inflated Nacional's asking price.

Liverpool are keen to strengthen their defence, especially after allowing Sotirios Kyrgiakos to join Wolfsburg on a free transfer.

Coates is an elegant and quick defender, comfortable with possession and capable of bringing the ball out from defence.

He missed out on his country's World Cup squad in South Africa last summer and his inexperience at senior international level could provide an obstacle in obtaining a work permit, although he does have Spanish and British ancestry.

Newcastle In Transfer Tussle Over £7m Striker

French side Sochaux have threatened to report Newcastle for making an illegal approach for striker Modibo Maiga, with the 23-year-old refusing to attend training yesterday.

Sochaux chairman Alexandre Lamcombe told reporters that the club will make a complaint to FIFA if talks take place without their knowledge.

“Newcastle is going on contacting our players despite our refusal,” Lacombe said.

“So we will register a complaint with UEFA, telling them such behaviour is not fair play.”

Maiga has long been clear about a desire to join Newcastle, with the Daily Mail reporting that a deal worth £7 million is on the cards for the Mali international.

But Sochaux have said that their main man is not for sale, and should Newcastle have illegally contacted the player, they may face a UEFA reprimand.

Chelsea Poised To Sign Mexican Strike Sensation

Chelsea are poised to sign talented young Mexico striker Ulises Davila in a deal that would result in him being loaned to affiliate club Vitesse for a season.

Blues scouts watched Davila at the CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup last year and have monitored him since then.

The promising attacker has attracted the interest of a number of other clubs, including Ajax and Atletico Madrid, but the 20-year-old is expected to be confirmed as a Chelsea player this week, according to Dutch reports.

Davila does not qualify for a work permit which means Andre Villas-Boas will send him on loan to Dutch club Vitesse for a year.

Everton Linked With Ridgewell & Onuoha

The British tabloids have covered the financial situation at Everton in great detail over the past few days, but still have found time to link the Merseyside club with Liam Ridgewell and Nedum Onuoha.

These reports come from the Daily Mail so make of them what you will.

The first links Everton and Celtic to Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell.

The 27-year-old was due to sign for West Brom but the move has now broken down.

If Everton was to make a move it would be a loan deal, with a view to a permanent transfer.

The paper claims that: 'Everton would like to make a deal permanent once they have cash.’ which is never probably.

They have also linked Everton with Manchester City’s Nedum Onuoha, who has been linked a few times over the summer, so perhaps there could be something in that? But again it is likely to only be a loan.

Former Reds Striker In Shock Anfield Return Link

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy is poised for a sensational return to Liverpool according to reports in the guardian.co.uk.

The 32-year-old Welsh international finds himself surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium, and spent last season on loan at Cardiff City.

Citizens boss Roberto Mancini has made no secret of his desire to sell Bellamy this summer - but the player's £95,000 per week wages have proved to be a substantial stumbling block for a number of interested parties.

However, Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is believed to be considering a surprise swoop for Bellamy - a move that would see the player return to Anfield, where he spent a solitary season in 2006-07 scoring seven goals in 27 appearances under then manager Rafael Benitez.

But after failing to make a big enough impact at Liverpool, Bellamy moved on to West Ham, where he joined for £7.5million, and played there for two years before signing for Manchester City in 2009.

Liverpool are prepared to offer Bellamy a similarly lucrative contract in order to orchestrate a return to Anfield, providing City will not demand any transfer fee.

Fulham Rival Tottenham In FC Twente Double Swoop

Fulham is preparing a double bid for FC Twente stars Nacer Chadli and Bryan Ruiz.

The Craven Cottage club has formally lodged a bid for winger Chadli but has been told to double their £4.37million offer by Twente chairman Joop Munsterman.

The 21-year-old has impressed for the Eredivisie side since joining from AGOVV last summer and scored in both recent Champions League clashes with Tottenham.

The Belgium international has been attracting interest from across Europe with Fulham not being the first team to have a bid rejected.

Cottagers boss Martin Jol is also in the market for a striker and has inquired about Spurs target Ruiz.

The Costa Rica international has a £13.75million release clause but Fulham were hoping to compromise over a fee.

Munsterman confirmed the interest in the 25-year-old but he does not expect the deal to get very far.

“The offer for Chadli we consider a half bid, “he told Voetbal International. “And Bryan did not even want to join Fulham.”

Chelsea Defender Set For Hamburg Switch

Chelsea defender Slobodan Rajkovic has passed his medical at Hamburg and will sign a three-year deal with the German club.

The Serbian joined Chelsea in 2005 from OFK Beograd, when he was 16, and has since spent loan spells back at his former side as well as PSV Eindhoven, FC Twente and Vitesse Arnhem.

Despite featuring for Serbia since his move to Chelsea, Rajkovic has failed to earn a work permit at the club and Hamburg has stepped in.

Former Chelsea director Frank Arnesen, now at Hamburg, has sorted a deal for the 22-year-old, who completed a medical at his new club on Tuesday morning.