Nasri and Fabregas to quit Arsenal, Benzema to sign?

Samir Nasri is set to quit Arsenal for Bayern Munich, that's the stunning bombshell that the News of the World exploded at the weekend. The 23-year-old Frenchman is allegedly fed up with Arsenal's empty trophy cabinet and has been in discussions with Bayern Munich. The NoW says that the German giants are willing to pay the Gunners £30m for the midfield maestro, who started the season in blistering form only to fade badly with the rest of the Arsenal squad, as Sunday's abject home defeat to Aston Villa illustrated.

Apparently, Bayern see Nasri as the perfect replacement for Franck Ribery, a compatriot of Nasri's who rumoured to be on his way out of the Bundesliga in the summer. "Bayern are thinking big, as their interest in a number of English-based players has shown," a club insider told the NoW.

With Cesc Fabregas also likely to leave the Emirates next month, returning to Barcelona in a big money deal, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will have to reconstruct his midfield with Jack Wilshere the only world-class player definitely staying on although he must be wondering what he's let himself in for in the wake of one shocking result after another in recent weeks.

But while one Frenchman leaves, another one arrives, perhaps, with the Metro reporting that Karim Benzema will be leaving Real Madrid for Arsenal in the summer after the two clubs allegedly agreed a £25m deal. Benzema has been told by Jose Mourinho, coach of Real, that's he's unlikely to feature regularly next season at the Bernabeu, and that's convinced the 23-year-old French striker to respond to Arsenal's come-hither glances. Inter Milan and Juventus have also been making enquiries about the French international but according to Metro Benzema has been persuaded by Wenger to have a crack at the Premier League

Mind you, the deal might not be quite as cut and dried as the Metro assumes because Benzema's agent, Kraim Djaziri, has distanced himself from the story, telling Spanish rag AS: "Karim has at no time thought about leaving Real Madrid this summer and he has not told me to open talks with Arsenal or any other club," Djaziri is quoted as ranting to the paper. "The report published by Metro is completely false. Karim just wants to stay at Madrid and build on his good performances from the past couple of months."

So who should we trust, the Fourth Estate or a football agent? Transfer Talk will let you, our discerning readers, make up your own minds.

One player who has apparently made up his mind is Schalke 04 keeper Manuel Neuer. The German international said weeks ago that he would leave the club at the end of the current season but it was unclear where he was headed. Manchester United and Arsenal were both mooted as possibilities but Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness told German television at the weekend that the 24-year-old Neuer is coming their way next season. "Our management have been able to outline an agreement with Schalke. The question is now whether they will want to formalise the deal," Hoeness told Sky Deutschland. It's believed Bayern will pay Schalke around £17m up front with bonuses to follow depending on how well Neuer performs.

The Sun reports that Spurs might be about to snare Uruguay striker Diego Forlan as Atletico Madrid look to offload the 31-year-old who has scored just 10 goals this season. Harry Redknapp had hoped to bring Forlan to White Hart Lane in January but that never materialised, yet according to the Sun the Spanish club are now prepared to sell the South American for £10m, half of what Redknapp had been expecting to pay for the outstanding frontman of last summer's World Cup.

Finally, flushed from their FA Cup success, Manchester City are now hoping to snap up England defender Leighton Baines in next month's transfer window. The Mirror says that the Sky Blues are desperate to get their hands on the 26-year-old Baines and are putting together a £20m pacakage that they hope will lure him from Everton to Eastlands instead of the Emirates. Arsenal have been courting Baines for weeks but it's unlikely the Gunners would be able to match City's offer.

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