Manchester City are banking on Samir Nasri to convince Arsenal captain Robin van Persie about a move to Etihad. The Daily Star Sunday says Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure are already firm City favourites and Nasri has enjoyed a superb start to life at his new club.

Van Persie, 28, who has put his Hertfordshire home on the market for £1.9m, would love to stay in the Premier League.

And that has alerted both City and neighbours Manchester United into plotting a January raid.