Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is willing to meet Samir Nasri's buyout clause to land the Olympique Marseille attacking midfielder.

The Guardian says Nasri can play on either flank and would seem to be equipped to fill the role of Alexander Hleb who, according to his agent, is determined to leave the club this summer.

Nasri, 20, signed a four-year deal at Marseille this month but it contains a buy-out clause of €17m (£13.5m) and the Arsenal manager is preparing to pay it. Talks have been held with his representatives and Nasri indicated on Saturday, after scoring in Marseille's 4-3 win over Strasbourg which secured qualification for the Champions League, that he is ready to bid farewell.

"It is very important [to score] because it is perhaps my last match at the Stade Velodrome," he said.

Nasri is an instinctive and skilful touch player who has pace, vision and a good temperament. He may well replace a similar player in Hleb, who has had his head turned by the interest of Internazionale. They have been preoccupied by the chase for the scudetto but after securing it last Sunday, Hleb can resume talks.