Nasri Remains Manchester United Target

Manchester United remain hopeful of signing Samir Nasri after making a near-£20m bid for Arsenal's French international midfielder.

BBC Sport can confirm reports that United made an official offer for the 24-year-old within the last fortnight, and that the bid remains on the table.

Nasri has so far refused to extend his Arsenal contract, which has only 12 months to run.

He is expected to meet Arsene Wenger for talks within the next 24 hours.

Wenger is already facing the prospect of losing captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, having sold Gael Clichy to Manchester City on Monday.

The Arsenal manager is determined not to sell Nasri to United but knows the player could leave for nothing if he sits out the last year of his deal.

Chelsea and Manchester City have also been strongly linked with Nasri, and Wenger is reluctant to see one of his key performers, and a player he would like as a cornerstone of a rebuilt Arsenal team, move to one of his Premier League rivals.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, however, is determined to strengthen his midfield after the retirement of Paul Scholes and with Ryan Giggs coming to the end of his career.

Tottenham's Luka Modric and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder have been touted as possible Ferguson targets, but the fact that United have made a firm offer for Nasri suggests they are optimistic that a deal can be done, despite Wenger's determination not to sell - and especially to Old Trafford.

Arsenal have offered Nasri an improved, long-term deal at the Emirates and were confident he would sign towards the end of last season, but doubts have grown throughout the summer and suitors are encouraged they can now prise him away from Arsenal.

Samir Nasri's career
Joined Marseille's academy at the age of nine in 1996
Made his debut for Marseille in September 2004
First played for France in March 2007
Part of the France squad for Euro 2008
Signed for Arsenal for a fee of around £12m in July 2008
Missed out on the France squad for the 2010 World Cup
Has scored 18 Premier League goals for the Gunners