Arsene Wenger stopped short of accusing Manchester City of tapping up Samir Nasri after finally conceding defeat in his bid to keep the midfielder at Arsenal.
The Gunners yesterday confirmed an agreement had been reached with City for the transfer of contract rebel Nasri, who was today expected to put the finishing touches to his move north.
Arsenal manager Wenger had been angered by opposite number Roberto Mancini's public declarations about Nasri, amid reports he had agreed personal terms with City some time ago.
Asked if the 24-year-old was aware of what he could earn by moving to the Manchester club, Wenger said yesterday: "Of course."
But quizzed on whether City's pursuit of him amounted to tapping up, the Frenchman would only say: "Who knows?"
Wenger acknowledged it was Nasri's refusal to extend a contract that expired next summer which ultimately forced Arsenal's hand, just as captain Cesc Fabregas' desire to rejoin Barcelona had done last week.
"We did not want to lose Fabregas, but we were forced into a situation we didn't want," Wenger said.
"Nasri is a situation where the player didn't want to extend his contract with the proposals he had somewhere else.
"What kind of commitment can you have when the player is not there long-term? That is the question you have to answer."
He added: "Football rules are made like that, that the player can be worth a lot of money today and nothing in six months.
"So it doesn't look completely logical but, at the end of the day, of course, we are forced into a decision like that for psychological and financial reasons."
Wenger suggested earlier this summer Arsenal could no longer consider themselves a big club if they let both Fabregas and Nasri go.
But he was defiant yesterday, confident the players he had and those he was trying to buy would not feel that way.
They might, however, if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League tonight.
Wenger refused to contemplate the consequences of defeat in the Gunners' play-off round tie against Udinese, in which they last week secured a 1-0 first-leg lead.
Arsenal will be strengthened by the availability of several players tonight, including new captain Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou.
Still out though is Jack Wilshere, who suffered a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury and will be sidelined for at least another fortnight.
That would rule him out of England's European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales next month.
Wenger said the 19-year-old had "no chance" of being fit, which would be a huge blow to both club and country, especially with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard already out of the international double-header.
Wenger said: "It's not ideal for us on the day we sell Nasri.
"I don't know if we are back to square one or for how long he will be out."
Wenger did finally enjoy some respite during his fortnight from hell last night after UEFA granted him "a stay of execution" for this evening's game.
European football's governing body agreed to defer a two-match touchline ban which they imposed yesterday on Wenger and which the Gunners elected to contest.
UEFA acceded to Arsenal's request for the appeal to be heard before any suspension began, with a hearing likely to take place on Thursday.
The Football Association were not so generous when it came to meting out their own punishment for Arsenal's transgressions at Newcastle on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Gunners were fined £30,000 by the Football Association yesterday for failing to control their players against their hosts, who were given the same sanction.
He's off! Arsenal agree £24m Nasri fee with Man City... but United stand by to hijack deal
Samir Nasri was in the North West on Tuesday night having a medical after Arsenal finally accepted a £24million bid from Manchester City.
But Sportsmail understands Manchester United were closely monitoring the situation in the hope they might yet be able to hijack the deal, which is also expected to see around £2m going to the France midfielder's agent.
City now look like Nasri's next club and United would struggle to match the £185,000-a-week wages being offered to the player for the next five years.
But Sir Alex Ferguson is a huge admirer and might just be able to lure Nasri to Old Trafford with the promise of a central role he had in mind for Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder.
Yesterday Arsenal seemed to consider City the more likely destination, confirming a deal had been struck shortly before boarding their plane for Italy.
A statement read: 'Arsenal can confirm that they have agreed terms for Samir Nasri to move to Manchester City. The 24-year-old midfielder has been omitted from Arsenal's squad which flies to Italy to face Udinese.'
GOODBYE, TWEET FRIEND
Midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong
hinted at tension within the Arsenal
ranks yesterday in a Twitter exchange
with team-mate Jack Wilshere...
Wilshere tweeted: ‘Good luck to my
friend @Nanas08 (mr Nasri) learnt a lot
from him. World class player! Will be missed!’
Frimpong replied: ‘Pffffff come on Jack.’
Nasri had trained with Arsene Wenger's squad yesterday and the Arsenal manager wanted the player with him for tonight's crucial Champions League playoff.
Wenger is already working with a severely depleted squad - only 18 players have travelled. He is also concerned by the temperature here in Udine, which rose to 38 degrees yesterday.
Sportsmail understands Wenger was not entirely happy with the decision to sell when the deal coincided with news of Jack Wilshere's latest injury setback, adding to the sense that the relationship between manager and board is becoming strained.
There are those close to the situation who fear defeat tonight and then at Manchester United on Sunday could leave the Frenchman considering his future.
What next? Wenger will now have to plan for life without two of his main stars
Publicly, Wenger showed no sign of such a conflict and said Nasri had been sold for 'psychological and financial reasons'.
'He trained but I knew before training,' he added. 'He didn't know. The decision was made just before.
'Nasri is a situation where the player didn't want to extend his contract with the proposals he had somewhere else.
'What kind of commitment can you have when the player is not there long-term? That is the question you have to answer.'
Exodus: Former Arsenal captain Fabregas has already left the club
He added: 'Football rules are made like that, that the player can be worth a lot of money today and nothing in six months,
'So it doesn't look completely logical but, at the end of the day, of course, we are forced into a decision like that for psychological and financial reasons.'
Tottenham agree a loan deal for Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor
TOTTENHAM last night agreed a loan deal for striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Manchester City's ex-Arsenal hitman will have a medical today.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp saw his side soundly beaten 3-0 by Manchester United on Monday and admitted he needed new signings.
So he has swooped for Togo ace Adebayor, who is behind Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli in the pecking order at City.
Tottenham have agreed to pay a larger percentage of the 27-year-old's £170,000-a-week wages than they were originally willing to splash out.
But the £25million striker will not be allowed to make his Spurs debut this Sunday when they face his parent club.
The move could open the door for Peter Crouch's exit from White Hart Lane, with QPR and Fulham both interested in the England international.
Balotelli fancies playing for Palermo
Mario Balotelli has claimed he would like to swap the rain-swept English summer for the sunshine of Sicily by joining Palermo.
Earlier this month, the Italy striker voiced his unhappiness living in Manchester and revealed he missed his family and friends.
Now, the 21-year-old has said he would be happy to pull on the pink shirt of Serie A's most southern club, who play in the city of his birth.
"You know where I would like to play? Palermo," said the self-confessed AC Milan fan. "I would like to go there.
"It is a nice place - there is the sun."
However, colourful Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, who has accused English clubs of being "pirates" and once labelled his side "a bunch of girls", appears unwilling to buy him.
Palermo have money to spend after selling playmaker Javier Pastore to Paris St Germain for £37million.
But Zamparini said: "No comment, but if we sold Pastore because of a problem with his wages, how can we take Balotelli?"
Sunderland believe in Santa Cruz
Steve Bruce wants to bring forgotten striker Roque Santa Cruz to Sunderland.
He faces opposition, however, from Scottish giants Celtic, who also want the Manchester City striker.
Santa Cruz, 30, has started just eight games at City - scoring four times -since signing from Blackburn two years ago.
Back then, he cost £18million, but interested clubs are now set to pay far less as City try to get the frontman - who has picked up around £8m in wages during his spell at the club - off their books.
Sunderland boss Bruce has already signed rising striking star Connor Wickham from Ipswich this summer to boost his attacking options.
But he sees Santa Cruz as an experienced alternative to Ghana World Cup star Asamoah Gyan.
Spanish sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano are interested in signing the Paraguay international on loan, but City are said to have dismissed their offers as insufficient.
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[/spoiler]QUIZ BOLLOX
Football quiz: Manchester City
Today's questions were once poor
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/quiz ... ootball%29
OTHER BOLLOX
QPR are stepping up their efforts to sign unsettled Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton and have made a new £5m offer for West Ham's Scott Parker. Daily Mail
Forward El-Hadji Diouf has criticised Blackburn manager Steve Kean for freezing him out at Ewood Park. the Sun
Aston Villa are set to make a £3.5m bid for Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson. Daily Mail
QPR have launched a bid to sign Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas on loan. the Sun
Midfielder Luka Modric needs a pay rise to prevent him leaving Spurs, says manager Harry Redknapp.Metro
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Tottenham will reject a £30m bid from Chelsea for Modric. Daily Mail
Arsenal target Eden Hazard has once again reaffirmed his commitment to Lille by ruling out a move to the Emirates this summer. talkSHIT
Misfit Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole wants a permanent move away from Anfield - and wants to join Tottenham. Daily Mirror
Arsene Wenger will look to sign Everton pair Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta as he looks to strengthen his Arsenal side before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Caughtoffside.com
Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen, David N'Gog and Alberto Aquilani are all strongly linked with Liverpool exits. Caughtoffside.com
AC Milan have accepted Liverpool's terms for former Roma midfielder Aquilani, according to sources in Italy. Insidefutbol.com
Lyon have told Newcastle to up their bid for Aly Cissokho or forget about signing him before the window shuts. talkSHIT
Chelsea are close to signing promising Mexico striker Ulises Davila in a deal that would result in him being loaned to affiliate club Vitesse for a season. talkSHIT
Meanwhile, Chelsea have lodged a bid of around €20m [£16.6m] for the highly rated Porto wing-back Alvaro Pereira. the Guardian
Jose Mourinho denies he is set to quit as coach of Real Madrid despite his official spokesman supposedly suggesting he was unhappy and planning to leave the Bernabeu. the Guardian
BOLLOX BOLLOX
Manchester City in shock deal?
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll may be just eight months in to his Reds career, but rumours of a possible departure erupted on Twitter after he was 'spotted' outside Manchester City’s stadium.
The Eastlands outfit are no stranger to pulling off shock deals, and this would have ranked as one of the biggest coups yet if they managed to land the £35million Geordie from their Premier League rivals.
But thankfully for Kopites (and anyone who’s got even a shred of belief left in the game), the 6ft 3in hitman wasn’t jumping ship for a bumper pay packet at City, and it was just a case of mistaken identity after his namesake’s tiling firm rocked up outside the Blues club shop.
Incognito fail: Andy Carroll Tiling Ltd. set tongues wagging in the north-west (Pic: Len Lavelle)
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has recently had to defend Carroll’s slow start to life on Merseyside, so no wonder rumours started to grow when City’s name was thrown into the equation.
http://www.mancityfans.net/mcfnet/viewt ... 19&t=39683
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