Arsenal Eyeing Move For £16m-Rated Serbian International

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news on Arsenal’s interest in Man City’s Matija Nastasic.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a move for £16m-rated Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic if Thomas Vermaelen forces his way out of the club this summer, according to reports.

Vermaelen has been forced to sit on the sidelines for much of the last 18 months since losing his place in Arsene Wenger’s starting eleven so understandably he’s being linked with a move away from the club this summer.

The Belgian international has less than 12 months remaining on his contract so we’re at risk of losing him for nothing next summer and Manchester United are reportedly lining-up an improved £10m bid having seen their opening offer rejected.

While it would be disappointing to see another player join a rival, the club won’t want to lose him for free and Vermaelen is also likely to try and push his way out in search of first team football, so it’s likely the 28-year-old will be granted a move over the coming weeks.

This is going to leave a huge hole in the squad as we’ll arguably need to bring in two new centre-backs to act as cover for first choice pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny next season.

We’ve been linked with a number of targets throughout Europe in recent weeks but it looks as though the boss has his eye on someone a little closer to home with the Daily Mail are claiming today that we are lining-up a move for Man City youngster Matija Nastasic.

The newspaper suggests that Wenger has been monitoring the Serbian international since his days at Fiorentina and will make a move for the 21-year-old should, as expected, Vermaelen leave the club.

Nastasic arrived at the Eithad Stadium in 2012 with a reputation as one of the best up-and-coming defenders in Europe and he lived up to that tag during his debut season in the Premier League before injury restricted him to just 13 league appearances last season.

With City expected to sign Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala this summer, the youngster is likely to see his chances at the champions limited so could be open to a move, but the Mail claim it will take £16m to persuade City to sell.

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That sounds like a reasonable fee for such a talent and a player who has his entire career ahead of him, but it remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger is willing to match the asking price.