Samir Nasri seeking £6M Arsenal pay deal

Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Samir Nasri seeking £6M Arsenal pay deal
ABOVE: Samir Nasri has demanded a new deal worth around £6m a year

SAMIR NASRI has rocked Arsenal by demanding a new deal worth around £6m a year, making him the highest paid at the club.

Samir Nasri has a year left on his contract, but is asking for more than Arsenal pay skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for the Frenchman and contract talks have been dragging on for months.

The north Londoners are unwilling to meet the 23-year-old’s request.

They feel that although he had a good season overall, his form tailed off as the club went a sixth season without a trophy. But such a pay hike could spark difficulties with Fabregas.

The club – as Starsport revealed yesterday – are planning to keep their skipper at the Emirates by resisting overtures from Barcelona again.

Alain Migliaccio, Nasri’s representative, yesterday revealed his player will meet boss Arsene Wenger soon.

“There are a few clubs interested in Samir, but it is useless to name them. Before listening to other teams, we need and we want to talk with Arsenal,” he said.

Starsport can also reveal Wenger is considering a shock move to land Swedish midfielder Sebastian Larsson on a free.

Larsson, 26, joined Birmingham for £1m in 2007 after making just three appearances for the Gunners.

But he is now out of contract and fancies a return to the club he still supports.

Fabregas yesterday pledged his loyalty to Arsenal but revealed he is uncertain whether Wenger still wants him.

“I’m very happy where I am. If I said anything else to you, I would be lying,” he said.

“I’m an Arsenal player, we have a great team and a great coach.

“If one day I have to leave Arsenal, then I’ll speak that same day – not before.

“I haven’t spoken to the boss. He’s the one who makes the decisions and I don’t know if they want to sell me or not.

“Barca are the best team in the world and going there guarantees winning titles.

“Any player who says they are not frustrated by not winning titles is lying. I’m ambitious.”

Twelve months ago he had his heart set on returning to the club he left as a 16-year-old in 2003, declaring: “I think I would like to go to Barcelona.”

But he admitted yesterday: “Last year I made a mistake but that’s passed now and you learn from your mistakes.

“Last year was hard. I came out and gave my position and maybe I was wrong to do so.”