Fergie cool on Nasri transfer

SIR Alex Ferguson has claimed that Samir Nasri has agreed to leave Arsenal – but not to join Manchester United.

The United manager made his comments shortly after arriving in Boston on the first leg of his club's five–match United States tour.

With Paul Scholes now retired, Ferguson is on the look–out for a replacement.

Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric have been linked with an Old Trafford move, but so has Nasri, with United said to have had a £20million bid for the France midfielder turned down.

"I don't think he is coming to United," said Ferguson.

"That is all I can tell you. I think he has agreed to go somewhere else."

Nasri has gone on tour with Arsenal to Malaysia and manager Arsene Wenger has indicated he may keep the player for the final year of his contract, and thus risk losing him for nothing in 12 months' time.

"That is his decision," said Ferguson. "He is the manager.

If he isn’t going to get Nasri, Ferguson refuses to abandon the idea of bringing in anyone, even if a like–for–like replacement for Scholes is unlikely.

Should Ferguson get anyone, Sneijder is now the most likely given Modric has already expressed a preference for Chelsea if he can engineer a move from Tottenham.