Nasri agrees City deal as Arsenal hang on for £25m

Manchester City are preparing to crank up the pressure on Arsenal to sell Samir Nasri according to most of the British papers, who in turn have been getting their information from French sports daily L'Equipe. It claims that Nasri has already agreed an informal deal with the Citizens, one that will net him £185,000-per week. However with the French midfielder still tied to the Gunners for another year, Nasri's move will only go through if Arsenal accept an improved bid on City's initial one of £19m. The Metro claims that Arsene Wenger is reluctant to part company with Nasri but should City come in with an offer of £25m then the Nutty Professor would be willing to say 'adieu'.

Meanwhile another Gunner allegedly on the move – albeit temporarily – is Mexican striker Carlos Vela. According to France Football the 22-year-old Vela is wanted by Lorient of the French First Division and talks are currently underway. With the two clubs on good terms following the sale to Arsenal of Laurent Koscielny last summer a deal is on the cards.

With Arsenal's need for a decent centre half increasing by the hour the Daily Mail says that the Gunners assistant manager Pat Rice accompanied chief scout Steve Rowley to watch Scott Dann play for Birmingham against Spurs on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Dann is also being monitored by Liverpool according to the Mail and comes with an £8m price tag, and judging by the 6-3 scoreline in favour of Spurs he has all the attributes to slot into the Arsenal back four.

Gabriel Obertan has joined Newcastle from Manchester United on a five-year contract and by the midfielder's own admission he won't miss life at Old Trafford after two seasons warming the bench. "It was a bit difficult with the competition," confessed the 22-year-old."I really needed a club where I could play more games. I know it won't be easy to play each game here... but I want a fresh start in my football." The former France Under-21 international switched clubs in a deal worth a reported £3m.

Real Madrid have obviously been thinking long and hard about their attitude following Transfer Talk's suggestion on Tuesday that they were being unkind to Spurs by valuing Lassana Diarra at £20m. As we reported that estimate was too much for Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who thought £14m was closer to the mark for the former Chelsea and Arsenal playmaker. And now it seems Real have accepted they were having a laugh with £20m and have dropped their asking price to £15m. Talksport claims that the decision will almost certainly result in the 26-year-old Diarra linking up with the Lilywhites, provided White Hart Lane is still standing by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, there's consternation on the quiet side of London with the news that Porto wingback Alvaro Pereira is not interested in a move to Chelsea. The 25-year-old Uruguay international had been rumoured to be on his way to the Bridge where his former Porto manager, Andre Villas-Boas, has taken up residence. But Pereira's agent has scotched the suggestion in an interview with Portuguese rag Maisfutebol: "There has been no contact with us," said Alejandro Savich when asked about Chelsea, adding: "The truth is that there are no official offers. Alvaro Pereira will start training on Wednesday with FC Porto."

However, as is often the way with agents, Savich was unable to promise that Pereira would remain with Porto till his dying day, saying: "He is aware that he has a contract until 2015 and that for now he is focused on FC Porto but also knows that things change quickly and that any time something could happen." ·