SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER is increasingly concerned Samir Nasri will not sign a new contract at Arsenal, who appear ready to sell Gael Clichy, having not yet offered him fresh terms.

Both players are into the final 12 months of their contracts, a situation that, in Nasri’s case, has alerted Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who has made discreet inquiries as to whether the midfielder might want to move to Old Trafford.

Nasri is receptive to the idea, although Wenger has said he would not countenance the sale.

Nasri and Clichy are in positions of strength and, for the next few weeks at least, they intend to watch the scramble for their services unfold before they select the best options for them. Nasri has been offered a five-year contract worth €100,000 a week by Arsenal, yet he is in no rush to sign.

If the 23-year-old French international does not get an attractive move, he would be content to give his all for another season at Arsenal before reconsidering his options next summer, when he would become a free agent.

Arsenal, who were stung when Mathieu Flamini left on a Bosman for Milan in 2008, do not want that to happen. They paid €18 million to take Nasri from Marseille.

Nasri would have no qualms about joining United and his comments from an interview in March are worth recounting.

“I’m not saying I will not play for an English club . . . except Tottenham,” he said.

“It’s like in France, I cannot play for Paris (St Germain) because I’m faithful. When I play for one club, I cannot play for the biggest rivals. After, another team in England, I don’t know . . . But money is not the most important. I’m just 23. What’s important is that I have a good team that can get better.”

Wenger’s discomfort is deepened by the uncertainty concerning Cesc Fabregas, and whether Barcelona will make an offer. Fabregas, who would like to rejoin his hometown club, is under contract until 2015 and he is not for sale, but an offer of €45 million could force Arsenal’s hand. It is unclear whether the Catalan club have the money.

Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta has dismissed suggestions Fabregas would not fit into their midfield.

Iniesta rubbished claims Fabregas’ game was too similar to his own, and that of Xavi.

He told radio station ONA FM: “The signing of Cesc is a matter for Arsenal and Barcelona and we (the players) cannot do anything about it. But Xavi, Cesc and I are not incompatible. If he comes he will improve the quality of the team.”

From Wenger’s point of view, it is also worth noting that Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott each have two years to run on their contracts and, to prevent a rerun of the Nasri situation, the club must surely try to progress negotiations on new deals for them before the start of next season.

Clichy has been a regular since 2003 yet he feels Wenger has been more concerned to groom Kieran Gibbs, his successor-in-waiting at left back, even though there have been doubts about Gibbs’ reliability.

Liverpool have been in contact over Clichy, and now that it has emerged the Merseyside club have made a bid of €5.65 million, it might flush out interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Wenger, who is adamant he will not sell to English rivals, is expected to make an offer to Clichy.

Wenger may have missed out on England Under-21 defender Phil Jones, who looks set to move to Manchester United, but a €13.5 million deal for Southampton starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to be confirmed at the start of July.

Arsenal, though, will also target experience during the summer, with Blackburn defender Christopher Samba widely reported to be close to completing a €10 million move to the Emirates Stadium.