Mancini eager to secure Nasri

MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini is getting increasingly desperate to complete the protracted purchase of midfielder Samir Nasri from Arsenal.

Although the transfer deadline is not until the end of the month, the next three days could prove to be decisive if Mancini is to land his man.

Nasri played for the Gunners in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday and, if he was to do the same when Arsenal face Udinese in their crucial Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, he would be unable to play for City in the group stages of the competition.

Mancini admitted that could force him to look at other options and expressed his frustration that the situation has dragged on for so long.

City showed why they are expected to be Premier League title challengers with an impressive

display to beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium yesterday, climbing to the top of the fledgling table in the process.

Goals from David Silva, Gareth Barry and Edin Dzeko were the least City deserved, but Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies kept Wanderers in contention until the end.

Carlos Tevez was a second-half substitute for City, making his first appearance of the campaign after a close season in which he made clear his desire to leave the club to be nearer to his family in South America.

A proposed switch to Corinthians fell through and Mancini does not expect Tevez to leave before the end of August.

He said: "Carlos is here, I don't think the situation will change.”