Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has the backing of the board over his decision to hang onto Samir Nasri.
Nasri is in the last year of his contract at Arsenal and has rejected offers to sign a new deal. That means he could leave on a free next summer if Arsenal do not sell him.
Manchester City are willing to pay him around £200,000 a week and give Arsenal a massive fee to clinch a deal now. But Wenger is insistent he wants to keep Nasri at the club for the coming season, even if the player turns down a new contract.
Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood told the Sunday Mirror: "It is possible we could lose the player on a free transfer but we are prepared to take that risk."
