Arsenal have moved to trump Liverpool for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.
The Mail on Sunday says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is plotting to hijack Liverpool's bid to buy £15million England winger Downing from Aston Villa.
Wenger will swoop for Downing, 26, as a ready-made replacement for Frenchman Samir Nasri, who will complete a £25m move to Manchester City when he returns from Arsenal's pre-season tour to Asia.
Arsenal's manager has vowed to keep Nasri at the Emirates but the 24-year-old has just a year left on his Arsenal contract and sources close to the deal are convinced a move will be agreed.
