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Wenger: Nasri, Cesc will stay

Kuala Lumpur - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that star midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will still be at the club next season, despite big money bids from Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Barcelona has reportedly been negotiating with Arsenal for Fabregas, while both Manchester clubs have expressed their desire to sign Nasri, who is in his last year of his contract.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur - the first stop in the Gunners' pre-season tour of Asia - Wenger said he was desperate to hold on to both players despite the transfer speculation surrounding them.

"Our position is always the same - we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him," said Wenger. "Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him."

Fabregas has been the subject of an ongoing transfer saga between Barcelona, where he started his football career, and Arsenal, where he first rose to prominence since the 2009/2010 season. And the player has publicly expressed his desire to join the Champions League holders on several occasions.

Barcelona are reported to have made several offers for Fabregas - with the highest in 2011 being £35 million, while Arsenal's English Premiership rivals Manchester United are said to have bid £20 million for Nasri.

Fabregas did not travel to Malaysia with the rest of squad, but Wenger cited a hamstring injury as the reason for his omission and said that Nasri's presence in Asia signaled he remained committed to Arsenal.

Wenger confirmed that Gervinho has signed from Lille, but the Ivory Coast striker was not included in the Asian tour lineup.
The Arsenal manager also said he would not buy a new left back despite selling Gael Clichy to Manchester City for £7 million.

"I already have Thomas Vermaelen, Armand Traore and Kieran Gibbs in the squad. There is no need to buy a left back at this time," said Wenger.

Wenger added that he would be focusing on the fitness of his squad during their time in the east. "It is good to come to Asia. We haven't been here since 1999. That is a long time," he said. "We will have a new experience over here. The players are tired as we just arrived, but at this stage of the season, it is all about getting them fit for the new season."
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