ALEX FERGUSON believes he can break the will of Arsene Wenger and land Samir Nasri.
Manchester United boss Ferguson decided to make his move for Arsenal's want-away French star after rivals City entered the chase.
And last night United gave him the green light to take his summer spending beyond £70million with a £20m bid for the 24-year-old.
Fergie has sat back and listened while Arsenal boss Wenger insisted there was no way he would sell Nasri to United.
The canny Scot was happy to watch as Nasri became increasingly frustrated at the Emirates. But he is ready to act after rivals City switched their sights to the Frenchman having admitted defeat in their £35m bid for Udinese's Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, 22.
Nasri is in the final year of his contract and wanted to see big buys at Arsenal before considering a new deal.
But he is now eyeing the move to United and Fergie believes Wenger will sell rather than risk losing a player, who cost £12m from Marseille three years ago, for nothing next summer.
Wenger is also close to completing a £12million deal for Lille’s Ivory Coast striker Gervinho. That signing could help with Nasri, who has made it clear the Gunners must prove their ambition to convince him to stay.
Gervinho, who established himself as a major star at Lille last season, is rated highly by Nasri and the pair are pals.
It’s believed Gervinho – who is understood to have had a medical – received a glowing report on Arsenal from Nasri, which is also an encouraging sign.
Arsene Wenger is hoping Ivory Coast striker Gervinho can persuade Samir Nasri to stay at Arsenal.
The Gunners boss is facing a battle to prevent Nasri following Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas out of the Emirates' exit door.
The France midfielder, 24, who has one year left on his contract, is a target for Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to land him for around £12million.
But Arsenal have offered him a new, £90,000-a-week, five-year contract that would - after Fabregas’ move, which is likely to be completed this week after Barca made a new offer for the Spain midfielder.
Barca’s new offer is around £34, but Arsenal are still demanding closer to £40m. The clubs were locked in further talks last night but chief executive Ivan Gazidis is determined not to lose him on the cheap and will hold out for the higher fee.
Arsenal don’t want to sell Nasri to one of their biggest title rivals but also don’t want him to run down his contract and lose him for nothing 12 months from now, so his new deal will include lucrative image rights and bonuses.
Arsenal also plan to make another major statement of intent by pushing forward in a move for Bolton’s Gary Cahill.
The England centre-half is next on their hit-list and, if they can sell flop French defender Sebastien Squillaci, they will also pursue Blackburn's Chris Samba to replace him.
Arsenal are ready to throw Henri Lansbury and Ignasi Miquel into the deal for Cahill, with the Spanish defender set for a season-long loan.
Valencia’s Juan Mata could replace the Spaniard in Wenger's squad, but Spurs are also keen on the attacking midfielder.
Another part of Wenger’s masterplan could be to play Thomas Vermaelen at left-back to strengthen his defence, as Gael Clichy is set to leave for Liverpool.
Wenger hopes to have Cahill and Gervinho signed by the start of pre-season and that will help in the battle to keep Nasri.
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