Samir Nasri apparently flew into London yesterday for a medical and to tie up his deal, putting to bed the longest running saga since Kristin shot JR. Well, I say flew in but nobody actually knows if he did or not, it is pure speculation at the moment but assuming he did, and it is for a medical like the reports suggest, then the deal will probably be confirmed later today or more likely, early next week. His signature should not in any way be linked to the departure of Alexander Hleb but the timing is, well let’s be generous, entirely fortuitous.

Talking of players leaving the club, Hleb had better put aside some of his luggage on the private jet that Barcelona will use because he will be accompanied by Emmanuel Adebayor for a rather nifty €29m according to the Catalan press. The article states that they will not pay a cent more than that sum but that Adebayor is the prime target as they seek to fill the Eto’o void, throwing in an old Henry quote to give the stupendously flattering report credibility.

However, Milan have said that if they do not get Adebayor, they will not sign anyone and just sit and sulk for the whole season instead. Having told the media that the Rossoneri could not afford to spend big this summer, Adriano Galliani is now wide open to chants of, “Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!” as they seem to believe that Arsenal’s refusal to negotiate is the only stumbling block, an interesting turn of phrase but perhaps I am nitpicking. And after all, I am sure that Arsene would not want to see the grown men of Milan cry so it’s a case of “So long and thanks for all the fish” for young Emmanuel because Arsene is in no way shape or form trying to build a winning squad and is willingly going to sell all of his best players simply because the playground bullies tell him to.

It is a right royal transfer tear up this morning with Gael Clichy apparently being coveted by Roma and Juventus. The former’s coach, Luciano Spalleti said,

Clichy is an excellent defender of international class. He is also still very young, so has plenty of football improvement left in him. Certainly, it would please me a great deal to see Gael Clichy in a Roma shirt.

I am sure it would and it is due recognition for Clichy’s form last season but pie in the sky wishful thinking if you ask me. Spalleti then went on to clinch the rumour with,

We will have to wait and see what develops

Which is coincidentally the first thing that George Eastman said whilst waiting to prove that the roll-film camera was a good idea.

Never fear though for Oba’s here. Perhaps not just yet as the fee Newcastle have set for him of £15m is apparently too much for Arsene to contemplate bringing the player to The Emirates and to fill the void left by Clichy. Today’s “Not-Coming-To-Arsenal” list kicks off with Daniel Parejo which is a bit quick for a denial to take place given he only joined the “Coming-To-Arsenal” list a day or so ago. Not joining him this summer is Diogo – no, not the one at Werder Bremen – but the “Portuguesa de Desportos star” (ahem) and nor is River Plate “wunderwinger” Augusto Fernandez. It is a pity for the latter duo for their rumours had never got going and it seems cruel to dash their dreams at such a tender age but football is a harsh business.

Off the pitch stuff is creeping into the fray, starting the slow build-up to a crescendo of “club in crisis” headlines later this summer no doubt. The Guardian reports that the Chips are down over the property development side of the business whilst Stan Kroenke is now apparently in pole position (hopefully that is the F1 parlance because anything else brings a nasty shudder) to buy up the Board’s shares if they go on sale and he of course, contributes to the lockdown agreement. The “club in crisis” bit? Usmanov will apparently be put on “Civil War Footing”.

And all of that has left me plum tuckered out as they say in the good old US of A so ’til Tomorrow.