Samir Nasri started for Arsenal against Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime

The French star is expected to travel with Arsenal for their ­Champions League tie in Italy – and Gunners boss Wenger is ready to defy City counterpart Roberto Mancini and use him in the must-win tie.

Mancini said it would be a “big problem” if Nasri played for Arsenal in the competition, as it would make him ineligible to turn out for any other club this season.

A dispute over agents’ fees held up the move over the weekend, and City are now prepared to take more drastic action and pull the plug if Wenger ignores their wishes.

Rooney and Hernandez are first choice

The return of Danny Welbeck, Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda from their various loan spells has bolstered the United frontline although the latter two did not even make the bench for the 3-0 win over Tottenham, along with Michael Owen, who was ruled out through injury.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Dimitar Berbatov also played no part, whilst Welbeck and Wayne Rooney both found the net as United maintained their 100% start.

But now the selection dilemmas start, with United facing up to a crunch clash with ailing rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

”If you look at Berbatov, Owen, Hernandez and Rooney, they all have different qualities,” Ferguson said. ”You have to utilise all that and make changes as best you can.

”The horrible part for me now is with having Javier back, what do we do? It is going to be a big problem for me.”

At least one departure looks inevitable before the transfer window closes, and possibly more than that.

Welbeck will not be shunted through the exit door though after following up an impressive pre-season campaign by scoring United’s second-half opener, then brilliantly setting up Anderson before Rooney wrapped up a comfortable win that maintained their 100% start and left them adrift of early pace-setters Manchester City by the slenderest of goal difference deficits.

”Danny is a big, rangy, long-legged boy who can gallop really quickly,” Ferguson said. ”Once he gets his legs going he is quick. He is a good footballer and has a great attitude when he loses the ball.

”He has always had ability but made slow progress because when he was growing he had a bit of a knee growth problem, so we knew we had to wait for him. We put him on loan to Sunderland last season and that is when he became a man. He has grown up. He is still only 20 years of age and the lad has a great future.”

Juan Mata is set to join Chelsea

Mata, 23, is set to complete his move to Stamford Bridge from Valencia for £26 million and revealed that some of the other clubs who were interested in signing him ”did not compare” to Roman Abramovich’s men.

“I want to come to England to win trophies – and that’s why I accepted Chelsea’s offer,” he said. “It was also a question of sporting achievement, not money. Arsenal and Tottenham were both interested in me but they did not compare with the Blues. I want the Premier League title and this is possible at Chelsea.”

Mata also revealed Chelsea striker Fernando Torres played a part in his decision.

“Fernando Torres helped influence my decision but speaking directly with Villas-Boas was the decisive factor”, he added. “He explained how his style will be based on 4-3-3 and how important I will be to his plans.

“Frank Lampard is a monster of a footballer to play alongside and the prospect of that is incredible.”

John Obi Mikel: Was advised to stay in England while police dealt with matter of his father's capture

Michael Obi had been kidnapped on August 12 while on his way home from work in the central Nigerian city of Jos, but was found on on Monday in the northern city of Kano. Police arrested those suspected in the kidnapping.

His son’s agents, SEM, released a statement on Twitter. “SEM are delighted to confirm, that earlier today Michael Obi called his family to advise them that he had been released by his abductors,” it read.

“SEM have waited until now to release this information, to ensure that Michael was safe. John Obi Mikel would like to thank everyone in Nigeria, his family & friends, Chelsea FC & their fans & his agents for their total support during this terrible time. A full statement of the situation will be released by SEM tomorrow morning.”

Obi Senior told the BBC that he had been kidnapped in Jos before being transferred to Kano. “I am very stressed,” he told them.

BBC reporter Yusuf Ibrahim Yakasai has said that Michael Obi’s face shows signs of the beatings endured during his ordeal.

Mikel continued to play for Chelsea during his father’s disappearance, appearing in the Blues’ Barclays Premier League opener at Stoke before their home 2-1 win over West Brom on Saturday.

Tottenham have refused to entertain bids for Luka Modric this summer

Modric missed the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United after informing Redknapp he was not in the right frame of mind to play at Old Trafford.

It has been claimed the Croatian star has effectively gone on strike in order to force through a move to Chelsea. Redknapp would prefer to believe Modric has just got ”confused” faced with the opportunity to treble his wages.

However, after being told by Levy at a summer meeting he would not be sold under any circumstances, Redknapp believes clear-the-air talks are required, with a new contract to follow.

”The chairman has to sit down and have a chat with him,” said the Spurs chief. ”They probably fell out a little bit over that first meeting.

”If they can have a meeting and resolve the whole situation and Daniel tells him we need him, he is important and that we are ambitious and will bring one or two players in, you might find the boy will be okay.

”The chairman has also said he will look at his contract in a month or two. He told me he would do that.”

If Modric is not allowed to go, Redknapp knows he may have some reassurance of his own to deliver. However, the Spurs chief is confident he can pick the player up once the August 31 deadline has passed.

”If anyone can pick him up, I can,” said Redknapp. ”I have a great relationship with him. People have to understand it is not an easy situation.

”If someone offered to treble anyone’s wages, they would find it difficult, wherever they worked. That is the situation the boy is in. If someone offers £150,000 a week rather than £50,000, you are going to have your head turned.

”Some players can handle it. I know players who have caused havoc in the dressing room in order to get a move. I have seen it so many times. But he wouldn’t cause anyone a problem. Let’s be truthful. He wanted to go, but he has just got confused with it all.”

Jenkinson: Arsenal kids must step up

In the wake of Cesc Fabregas’ sale to Barcelona and the anticipated departure of Samir Nasri to Manchester City, the Gunners have also suffered an injury crisis with Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Tomas Rosicky out of action and suspensions to regular first-teamers Gervinho and Alex Song haven’t helped either.

Jenkinson stepped in to play right-back in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool, while fellow kids Ignasi Miquel, Emmanuel Frimpong and Henri Lansbury were also involved, but the 19-year-old believes he and his team-mates must rise to the challenge.

He said: “There are a lot of young players in the squad, me included. But we are there for a reason – people believe in us – and all of us young ones have to step up to the mark and take responsibility, and that is what we will do.

“We are going to have ups and downs but that is part of football. We did well against Udinese and then things did not go our way with Liverpool. But we will bounce back. We have got a lot of quality and will come back from this, without a doubt.”

Meanwhile, young Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell has revealed his joy at sealing a move to the Emirates.

“Greetings to the Arsenal fans. It is a dream come true to play for such a big club in England and I want to do well for myself and Costa Rica. I am ready, I am very happy to be here and I want to focus on doing well for Arsenal,” he said.

“Arsenal is a very well-known club in Costa Rica. I am making history because no other Costa Rican player has ever played in a team with the quality of Arsenal. Only one player has been in the Premier League before but not like the one I am at now.

“Arsene Wenger is a manager of immense quality. He knows how to use youngsters’ ability. I have been watching Arsenal play since I was a kid and I took this decision because I know I have a possibility to become a better player here.”

Ben Acheampong signed by Kotoko

Strikers Ben Acheampong, Kofi Nti Boakye, Frank Yeboah formerly of RTU and Abdul Baba Rahman will join the Porcupine Warriors for next season.

The move, according to the Executive Chairman Dr. KK Sarpong is making do of his promise to replenish the side with quality as some key players would be sold.

“The fact of the matter is that a player cannot stay with Kotoko for all his life, if an offer comes for any of our players and the price is right, we will sell,” Dr. Sarpong told Hot FM.

“I will however make sure that for every Kotoko players sold, we will replace them with similar if not better quality of players, hence our signing of these players.”

All but Ben Acheampong and already signed Charles Adjei who are currently with the national U-23 team would be outdoored this weekend when Kotoko plays Nigeria club Warri Wolves in a friendly in Kumasi.

Dominic Adiyiah says he made a mistake to signing for AC Milan

The 20-year-old, a Most Valuable Player and Golden Shoe recipient at the 2009 Fifa Under-20 World, signed up for Milan afterwards.

But he failed to make the grades at the San Siro and was farmed out to Piacenza and Regina before spending the second half of last season at Partizan Belgrade.

“For me I must say it was a big mistake,” he told OtiAdjei Report.

“But as a youngster when a big team like Milan needs you cannot say no. However when you get there and there is no room for you, that is when you have to decide I need to go somewhere and do the right thing and come back.”

Adiyiah signed for ambitious Turkish second-tier side Kars?yaka in a move to revive his club career.

Lee Addy's transfer to Serbian side Red Star has been controversial

The utility player joined the Serbian side after last year’s World Cup from the Ghanaian champions.

But one year after his move, the Serbian giants have consistently failed to pay the remainder of the transfer fee.

After several months of persistent contacts with Red Star, they promised to pay the remainder of the fee to Berekum Chelsea on 1 August.

But three weeks after their promised day of payment, the Serbian side failed to heed to their promise which has prompted a frustrated Chelsea president Emmanuel Kyeremeh to resort to Fifa to seek redress.

“The remainder of the transfer fee of Lee Addy has become like a circus between us and Red Star Belgrade,” Kyeremeh said on his club’s official website, www.berekumchelsea.com.

“For over one year we have been very patient with them understanding that every club in world sometimes faces difficult challenges.

“The posturing of Red Star and the several broken promises of final payment of Lee’s transfer fee has left Berekum Chelsea with no option than to contact Fifa.

“We are partners in football and we have been very flexible with them. But time and time again they have failed to keep their promise.

“Our hands are tied and it is the reason why this week we will make a full report to Fifa so that they can make a final decision. We are tired of chasing Red Star over Lee’s transfer fee.”

Addy has been a key player for the Serbian side but has endured a negative media campaign in the country orchestrated by some officials of the club.

His complaint over problems he has faced on the payments of his monthly salary has not gone down well with Red Star officials.

The Ghana defender fell ill while on international duty at the start of the pre-season but some officials of the club told the Serbian press he has intentionally absented himself.

Medical records showed that he was down with malaria.

Asante Kotoko may opt out of GHALCA '8' tournament

This comes just a day after fellow Premier League giants Hearts Of Oak confirmed their withdrawal from the tournament which hitherto was meant for teams that finished in the first four of the previous Premier League campaign.

However, innovation and other dimensions added with the FA Cup feat by Division One club Nania FC has called for the extension of the tournament to eight teams and this seems not to have gone down well with some of the clubs especially the two most supported clubs in Ghana.

“All we know is that by virtue of our position on last season’s league standings (3rd), we have qualified to play in the Top 4 Tournament and that is what we are committed to,” Kotoko Executive chairman Dr. KK Sarpong told Hot FM.

“This talk of Top 4, Top 6 and now Top 8 competition creates the impression that organizers are a bit confused.

“We cannot do things haphazardly because all we know throughout the off-season and for which we have made preparations for is to play in the Top 4 tournament and not any other competition.”

However a member of the Organizing Committee Jefferey Asare disagrees completely insisting Kotoko have been in the know throughout the evolution.

“Each and every point we came out with something, we communicated with the clubs,” he said.

“Kotoko had representation in our meetings and never raised such concerns so I am quiet surprised by the reaction of Dr. Sarpong.”

Contrary to calls for this year’s tournament to be cancelled due to the simmering fall-outs, Asare insists it will go ahead as planned.

“The Committee has considered all the options and we will push ahead with the competition.

“We might have some genuine challenges but its the same even with the Fifa World Cup but we are determined to face these challenges head-on,” he added.

So far, League champions Berekum Chelsea, FA Cup winners Nania FC, AshGold, Medeama, Aduana Stars and New Edubiase have confirmed their participation.

The tournament’s launch is slated for this weekend where the name and title sponsors of the maiden competition is expected to be revealed.

samuel Eto

And Inter Milan will now use the fee to try and sign Carlos Tevez or Diego Forlan.

The Cameroon striker, 30, was persuaded to join sign a staggering three-year contract worth £54m – and will live and train with the team in Moscow and only travel to Dagestan for matches.

Forlan’s father Pablo claimed: “Diego’s agent is in Milan for the negotiations and he is anxiously waiting for this situation to be resolved.“However, as we all know, we are waiting for Inter to conclude the Eto’o sale. If that ‘triangle’ with Eto’o is concluded, then it’s practically certain Diego will end up at Inter.”

Wayne Rooney

As well as his new head of hair, Rooney’s goal at West Brom was evidence that he looks more like his old self again after a turbulent time last season.

The England star took until New Year’s Day to bag his first league goal in open play as he endured the most wretched form of his brilliant career.

His demands to leave Old Trafford last autumn rocked the club and he also had to deal with the fall-out from allegations that he had an affair.

Fergie claims all those negative headlines are history and is excited by Rooney’s fledging partnership with Danny Welbeck.

“All that’s a year ago,” insisted the United manager. “We have moved on.

“Wayne has been flying in pre-season. His fitness is terrific, he has the same energy all the time. He is a restless player on the pitch and he never stands still. He is a tremendous asset.

“It’s interesting to see how he is combining with Welbeck at the moment. Both are doing very well together.

“When Chicharito comes back, I’ll have a selection problem about the best combination and (Dimitar) Berbatov has done very well in pre-season. The boy Chicharito has goals written all over him, and it’s not a bad position to be in actually.”

Welbeck, 20, is part of the new youthful United and Fergie will also start David De Gea, 20, Jonny Evans, 23, Phil Jones, 19, and Chris Smalling, 21, against Tottenham tonight.

Ferguson’s defence at Old Trafford, including keeper De Gea, will have an average age of just 22.6 and he has put his faith in the new generation because of injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Smalling, who will play at right-back tonight, believes they will not let him down.

“It’s great for my confidence to be able to feature in as many games, and hopefully a lot more games, than last season,” said the England Under-21 defender.

“There’s always ­pressure here and that drive to win, and I think a lot of the young players, including myself, will hopefully rise to that.

“There are a lot of opportunities, given the amount of games we play.

‘‘There are going to be people, like Vida and Rio now, who pick up injuries or lose form and it’s down to us to step in and hopefully make the manager choose not to take you out of the team.”

Ferguson has warned Vidic and Ferdinand that they may not walk straight back into the side if the likes of Smalling, Evans and Jones perform well.

“Rio and Vida are aware of the abilities of the young players – there’s no question about that,” Fergie added.

“In respect to injuries, there’s nothing you can do if they are injured so it’s not an issue for me at the moment in terms of deciding who will be the centre-backs because both are injured.

“When they’re both fit or one of them is, then I will have a decision to make.

“I don’t see this as a ­challenge for the young players, it’s a responsibility.

“They are certainly in an important position.

‘‘They have the ability and the temperament so I don’t see it as a worry.

“I see it more as something I’m looking forward to than worrying about.”

Samir Nasri started for Arsenal against Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime

Nasri is believed to be on the verge of a £25 million move to Manchester City, a transfer that will ensure Arsenal do not lose the midfielder for nothing in 12 months’ time. However, Mancini had hoped to sign Nasri by the end of the weekend, only for the deal to be delayed by the reported demands of the player’s agent.

As a result, Arsene Wenger started Nasri in the weekend loss to Liverpool, and he claims he is not worried about picking him again for Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier in Italy. Should Nasri feature at all during the 90 minutes, he would become ineligible for City’s European campaign this season.

Mancini remains convinced the deal can be tied up imminently, but he did warn Arsenal and Nasri to seriously consider the consequences of playing in Udinese.

“I think we can close in the next two days, but if he plays in the Champions League, it will be a big problem,” Mancini said.

“It’s a big problem because we have followed Nasri for 40 days and I have hoped it [would be completed] in two days or in three days. I am sure we can close this in 24 or 48 hours, but I don’t know why it hasn’t been closed.”

Asked if he could look elsewhere if Nasri becomes cup-tied, Mancini replied: “It could be possible, yes.”

Manchester City currently top the Premier League table after they beat Bolton 3-2 on Sunday thanks to goals from David Silva, Gareth Barry and Edin Dzeko.

All eyes are on Arsene Wenger while the transfer window is open

The Gunners suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Liverpool at the weekend, when Emmanuel Frimpong was sent-off and centre-half Laurent Koscielny suffered a back problem, which is likely to keep him out of next week’s Champions League play-off second leg against Udinese.

Wenger is already without several first-team players because of injury and suspension, and the Emirates Stadium faithful once more called for their manager to spend big before the transfer window shuts in 10 days’ time.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of players this summer, including recent Chelsea acquisition Juan Mata, while rumours around a move for Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila and Real Madrid star Kaka continue. Wenger, however, insists it is not just about getting out the cheque book.

“Overall we will buy. Maybe people feel I am stubborn, but I am not, I just want to do the best for the team and buy the right players,” Wenger said.

“If I have shown one thing in the last 15 years, it is that I have bought good players. We will bring as well experienced players, but people just say ‘buy’ – but it is to buy the right player which is difficult.”

While Wenger has brought in fresh talent this summer, they have not been the experienced players which many Gunners fans crave. It is an assessment of the club’s circumstances that does not stack up for the Arsenal manager.

“I look at the players and if they are good enough,” Wenger said. “You forget we have bought players – Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson, Ryo [Miyaichi] – and you will see over the season they are top-quality players, but at the moment we have to give them some time.”

As well as starting with 19-year-old Jenkinson at full-back, Wenger was forced to give Spanish teenager Ignasi Miquel his Premier League debut when Koscielny pulled up.

It was a clearance from Miquel which cannoned off Aaron Ramsey and into the Arsenal net which handed Liverpool the lead, before substitute Luis Suarez knocked in a second in the final minute. Wenger rejected suggestions inexperience had proved costly – pointing instead to a marginal offside call in the build-up to Liverpool’s fortunate opener.

“I don’t think the decision of the offside for the first goal depends on our players,” he said. “I agree we were a bit young, that we looked a bit naive in some situations, but we have shown a great spirit and were unlucky. We did not deserve to lose this game.

“I feel we have a more negative environment and that is more difficult for the team. That is why the results are so important to get the confidence back.”

Arsenal will be able to field both Alex Song and Gervinho in their European tie as the duo’s bans are only for domestic games, while centre-back Johan Djourou could recover from his hamstring injury. Wenger also revealed England midfielder Jack Wilshere was close to a return from his ankle problem.

“He has a chance to play, yes,” the Arsenal boss said. “He has trained Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”