Arsenal snap up the 'new Fabregas'

(AFP)

Arsene Wenger is convinced that the £12m purchase of Jadson, a Brazilian midfielder in the Cesc Fabregas mould, will enable Arsenal to build from their summer wreckage, as Manchester City hold out hope that £22m Samir Nasri could be their player in time to field him against Swansea City on Monday night.

Jadson, a tough, compact, 27-year-old attacking midfielder, revealed his capacity for goals in this summer's Copa America, though his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk as a replacement for Fabregas – who is likely to follow Nasri out of the Emirates next week – will do little to lift the spirits of Arsenal supporters.

Wenger, it appears, was powerless to hold on to Nasri after a board meeting eight days ago at which principal shareholder Stan Kroenke insisted that it would be folly to sacrifice City's money and see the Frenchman leave as a free agent next summer. Wenger did not put up a fight and City hope to announce the signing of the player imminently.

City must lodge the transfer documents with the Premier League by midday today if they are to field the 24-year-old against the newly promoted Welsh side.

Though sources suggested City and Arsenal were a distance apart on one element of negotiations last night, Arsenal had already prepared the announcement of the player's departure by yesterday afternoon. Confirmation is expected today of Nasri's five-year City deal, under which he will earn around £165,000 a week – almost double the £90,000-a-week new deal he was offered to stay.

With Fabregas likely to be on the way to Barcelona for a fee of €34m (£29.8m) paid up front with up to €6m in add-ons, Shakhtar's representatives were in London yesterday to discuss the sale of Jadson. Though he is the best of the clutch of Brazilians at the Ukrainian club, a £12m deal would make them a £9m profit on the sum paid to Brazilian club side Atletico-PR in 2005. Jadson's spectacular long-distance effort against Paraguay in the Copa America showed his goal-scoring prowess.

Arsenal have opened discussions with Birmingham City over the signing of the £8m defender Scott Dann. Bolton are working to meet City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips' £70,000-a-week wage demands.