• Premier League

Fabregas and Nasri 'likely' to leave

ESPNsoccernet staff
August 10, 2011
Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri have been linked with transfers © PA Photos
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Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has revealed his concern that both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are destined to leave the club.

Nasri has recently been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, whilst the saga surrounding Fabregas' mooted switch to European champions Barcelona continues to rumble on. Chamakh admitted that he believes it is only a matter of time before the want-away duo get their wish and exit the Emirates.

"I think both of them are likely leaving the club," Chamakh told L'Equipe. "It's a difficult situation for the manager.

"I don't think it's a matter of money for Fabregas or Samir. I think he [Wenger] is looking for their successors and he hasn't found them. I think before letting them go he wants to find the players to replace them.

"That's my opinion about the situation. The problem is the season starts this weekend, and it's even more difficult for us.

"I think in the situation the club was in, they could have let only one leave," he said. "Especially Cesc, he wants to leave for several seasons because he's born in Barcelona. But Samir is now in a situation where he has one year left on his contract, so if they don't sell him this summer he will leave for free at the end of the season.

"Is the club ready to refuse a little bit more than €20 million to keep a good player for one season? It's strange, at a club like Arsenal, that he's now with one year left on his contract, that the club couldn't make him sign a new contract before."

On Tuesday, the Gunners included both Nasri and Fabregas in their squad for their upcoming Champions League play-off against Udinese. Should either player take any part in the game, they will not be eligible to play for another club for the rest of the competition, making them potentially less attractive to City and Barcelona respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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