Both players are into the final 12 months of their contracts, a situation that, in Nasri's case, has alerted Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, who has made discreet inquiries as to whether the midfielder might want to move to Old Trafford. Nasri is receptive to the idea, although Wenger has said that he would not countenance the sale. Nasri and Clichy are in positions of strength and, for the next few weeks at least, they intend to watch the scramble for their services unfold before they select the best options for them.
If the year-old does not get an attractive move, he would be content to give his all for another season at Arsenal before reconsidering his options next summer, when he would become a free agent. Arsenal, who were stung when Mathieu Flamini left on a Bosman for Milan in , do not want that to happen. Nasri would have no qualms about joining United and his comments from an interview in March are worth recounting. When I play for one club, I cannot play for the biggest rivals.
After, another team in England, I don't know … But money is not the most important. I'm just What's important is that I have a good team that can get better.
It is unclear whether Barcelona have the money. It is also worth noting that Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott each have two years to run on their contracts and to prevent a rerun of the Nasri situation, the club must surely try to progress negotiations on new deals for them before the start of next season.
Arsenal's players, though, are more inclined to keep their options open at present. Clichy has been a regular since yet he feels that Wenger has been more concerned to groom Kieran Gibbs, his successor-in-waiting at left-back, even though there have been doubts about Gibbs's reliability.
