Arsenal line up Nasri and Gomez to replace wantaway Hleb and Adebayor - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Arsenal line up Nasri and Gomez to replace wantaway Hleb and Adebayor

Arsene Wenger's new Arsenal team will begin to take shape this week with the signing of Samir Nasri from Marseille and negotiations to take St Etienne midfielders Mouhamadou Dabo and Blaise Matuidi to London.

Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez is being lined up should Emmanuel Adebayor continue to demand £80,000 a week and the arrival of 20-year-old Nasri will pave the way for Alexander Hleb to leave.

Past and present: Arsenal target Samir Nasri (L) stands next to former Gubnners striker Nicolas Anelka during training as the French team prepares for Euro 2008

Arsenal, who have already lost Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan, hope to conclude their major transfers by the start of Euro 2008 next month but still have to agree a fee with Marseille for Nasri, who can play on the left or the right as an attacking midfielder or as a central striker.

The French club are thought to be holding out for £13million while Arsenal are likely to pay around £9m with extra if he achieves his potential.

With Hleb determined to leave, despite having two years left on his contract, the club will wait for a suitable offer from Inter Milan, although they will resist letting him go for less than £16m.

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