Sagna Set To Join City As Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny Struggle With Injury

Bacary Sagna is prepared to rock Arsene Wenger by becoming the latest Arsenal player to join Manchester City, and there are growing questions over Olivier Giroud’s future at the club.

Full back Sagna, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is a target for Manuel Pellegrini. He has rejected two contract extension offers, the most recent being a two-year deal on his current £60,000-a-week salary.

The Frenchman’s representatives have held talks with Galatasaray and Inter Milan over a potential move abroad.

While the 31-year-old is allowed to talk to foreign clubs, he is not permitted to discuss any potential transfer with English sides until the end of the season, though it is understood Manchester City and Liverpool are both interested in him. Sagna wants a three-year deal on £90,000 a week to stay but Arsenal are unlikely to meet his demands.

Sources close to Sagna revealed that he would give serious consideration to joining City despite the bad blood between the clubs. Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy have made acrimonious moves from Arsenal to the Etihad in recent seasons

When Giroud signed for Arsenal in June 2012, it was agreed that he would hold discussions with Wenger about his future at the end of this season.

Normally discussions would have centred on the possibility of a new contract but allegations of an extra-marital affair have led the Frenchman to believe it could be in the best interests of his family to start afresh away from London.

The former Montpellier striker, 27, who added to speculation regarding his future recently by holding a clandestine meeting with influential agent Muzzi Ozcan, could find himself as third-choice striker next season, with Arsenal in the market for at least two new centre forwards.

Having been the club’s first-choice striker for the past two seasons, the prospect of sitting on the bench next season is unlikely to appeal to Giroud, who is said to have been emotionally effected by the accusations regarding his private life.

Meanwhile, the injured  quartet of Jack Wilshere (foot), Laurent Koscielny (calf), Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and Mesut Ozil (hamstring) are struggling to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan on April 12.